LOW DECONTAMINATION REPROCESSING OF THORIUM-URANIUM ALLOYS BY INDUCTION DRIP MELTING

The feasibility of low decontamination of thoriumuranium alloys by drip melting under vacuum in high frequency induction field was investigated experimentally. A substantial portion of the rare earths as well as the more volatile fission products were removed and no detectable vaporization of thorium or uranium was found. Fission product removal was improved by extending the heating period, that is, by decreasing the drip rate. A satisfactory, completely remote handling system for in-cave experiments with irradiated fuel was developed. The process shows promise for reprocessing of thorium-uranium fuels if 100% decontamination is not required. The method's simplicity makes it readily adaptable to remote handling techniques, and power requirements are not excessive. (auth) The milling techniques used by the Trace Elements Corp., Maybell, Colo., for producing uranium from lowgrade ore are discussed. The 300 tons/ day will upgrade the ore by rejecting a barren plus-200-mesh fraction via wet classification ahead of the leaching step and recovers uranium by ion exchange between leached-ore pulp containing 30% suspended solids and resin beads slurried in the pulp. (J.H.M.)