Recovering Uranium Submarine Reactor Fuels

The ORNL fluoride volatility pilot plant was modified to study recovery of uranium trom spent nuclear submarine fuel elements. The Zr-U elements are dissolved in NaFLiF-ZrF/sub 4/ in a hydrofluorinator with anhydrous HF at 650 to 500 deg C. The UF/sub 4/ formed is converted to volatile UF/sub 6/ by reaction with elemental fluorine in a newly designed fluorinator at 500 deg C, purified in a NaF sorption-desorption cycle at 100 to 400 deg C in improved absorbers, and collected in a pair of cold traps. The UF/sub 6/ is liquefied and collected. New auxiliary equipment items required were an HF supply system, an HF neutralizer, a fuel element carrier-charger, a molten salt sampler, and a scrubber for removing traces of HF and F/sub 2/ from cell ventilation air. (auth)