Patent ID: 6352677
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: C01B,C01G,C01P

Abstract:
A method for recovering anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and a uranium oxide product from uranium hexafluoride comprising the steps of:(a) reacting said uranium hexafluoride in a first reactor by contact with a liquid solution comprised of hydrogen fluoride and water to produce an uranyl fluoride hydrate intermediate; (b) reacting said uranyl fluoride hydrate intermediate with a gaseous water feed in a second reactor to produce said uranium oxide products and a mixture comprised of water, hydrogen fluoride and oxygen; (c) boiling said liquid solution comprised of hydrogen fluoride and water from said first reactor to form a vapor and combining said vapor with said mixture of comprised of water, hydrogen fluoride and oxygen from said second reactor to form a combination; (d) condensing said combination to form a mixed gas and liquid state, said gas state being comprised of essentially oxygen and said liquid state being comprised of hydrogen fluoride and water; and (e) distilling said mixed gas and liquid state in a separation unit to produce said anhydrous hydrogen fluoride as a distillate and a liquid stream of hydrogen fluoride and water azeotrope.