Patent ID: 11858825
Assignee: X-ENERGY, LLC
Field: Materials, metallurgy (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  G  Y | IPC C

Claim 0:
1. A method of preparing a solution of acid deficient uranyl nitrate having a formula of UO2(OH)y(NO3)2-y, where y ranges from 0.1 to 0.5, the method comprising:
a) dissolving UxOz in aqueous nitric acid to produce a uranium solution, wherein x is 1 to 3 and z is 2 to 8;
b) placing the uranium solution under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure in a sealed reaction chamber;
c) heating the uranium solution to a desired temperature of between 150° C. and 250° C. by applying microwave energy to the uranium solution;
d) maintaining the uranium solution at the desired temperature under elevated pressure for a desired hold time;
e) partially venting the pressure on the uranium solution without allowing the uranium solution to boil; and
f) reducing the desired temperature to below 100° C. and reducing the pressure on the uranium solution to atmospheric pressure to obtain an acid deficient uranyl nitrate solution.