Изучение процесса пирометаллургической сепарации металлического урана от оксидов редкоземельных элементов

Abstract

The processes of interaction between metallic uranium and rare earth oxides, i.e. neodym-ium oxides were investigated using both thermodynamic modeling and during experimental exposures at 1300 – 1500 °C. It was shown that metallic uranium partly reduces neodymium oxide resulting in formation uranium dioxide film that prevents ingot formation. Increase the temperature leads to higher degree of reduction and further complicates the rare earth oxide separation from uranium metal. Method of direct smelting can not be used for fissile materials extraction from mixture of metallic and oxide components obtained during nuclear fuel re-processing.