Patent US3843766A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3843766A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reprocessing nuclear fuels
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1969-12-09
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1989-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of dissolving spent metal nuclear fuel in tin and precipitating out a uranium nitride, free of the fission products, by reaction of the uranium contained in the spent fuel with nitrogen. The uranium nitride is then heated and subjected to a vacuum to remove the nitrogen and leave only the pure uranium.
Inventors
- 👤 R Anderson
- 👤 N Parlee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:13
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C19/00; G21C19/42; G21C19/44; G21C19/48; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
THE METHOD OF SEPARATING URANIUM METAL FROM SPENT METAL NUCLEAR FUELS INCLUDING URANIUM, FISSION PRODUCTS AND METAL ALLOYS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. DISSOLVING SAID SPENT METAL NUCLEAR FUEL IN A RELATIVELY LARGE QUANTITY OF TIN AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 500*C TO ABOUT 1,500*C TO FORM A SOLUTION; B. HEATING AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 500*C TO ABOUT 1,500*C SAID SOLUTION IN A NITROGEN ATMOSPHERE TO FORM A URANIUM NITRIDE PRECIPITATE; AND C. REMOVING THE NITROGEN FROM SAID URANIUM NITRIDE PRECIPITATE THERBY LEAVING URANIUM METAL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
THE METHOD OF SEPARATING URANIUM METAL FROM SPENT METAL NUCLEAR FUELS INCLUDING URANIUM, FISSION PRODUCTS AND METAL ALLOYS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. DISSOLVING SAID SPENT METAL NUCLEAR FUEL IN A RELATIVELY LARGE QUANTITY OF TIN AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 500*C TO ABOUT 1,500*C TO FORM A SOLUTION; B. HEATING AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 500*C TO ABOUT 1,500*C SAID SOLUTION IN A NITROGEN ATMOSPHERE TO FORM A URANIUM NITRIDE PRECIPITATE; AND C. REMOVING THE NITROGEN FROM SAID URANIUM NITRIDE PRECIPITATE THERBY LEAVING URANIUM METAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: a. said solution is heated in a nitrogen atmosphere of about one atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: a. said uranium nitride precipitate is dissolved in tin to form a tin-uranium nitride solution; b. heating said tin-uranium nitride solution in the presence of a vacuum to remove the nitrogen from said uranium nitride of said tin-uranium nitride solution and forming a tin-uranium solution; and c. removing the tin from said tin-uranium solution thereby leaving uranium metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein: a. said tin-uranium nitride solution is heated to a temperature of from about 1,000* C to about 1,500* C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: a. the tin is removed from said tin-uranium solution by heating the tin-uranium solution and boiling off the tin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: a. the tin is removed from said tin-uranium solution by dissolving said tin-uranium solution in magnesium to form a second solution; and b. heating said second solution to provide a uranium phase and a tin-magnesium phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein: a. said second solution is heated to a temperature of from about 500* C to about 1,200* C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |