Patent Number: 042345553
Section: claims

1. The method of decreasing the uranium content of an aqueous HF solution containing uranium to provide a product aqueous HF solution of increased purity, said method comprising: mixing particulate calcium fluoride with said solution to form uranium-bearing particulates,  permitting said particulates to sediment from said solution, and  separating the resulting aqueous HF solution from the settled particulates.  mixing said solution with particulate calcium fluoride to provide a calcium fluoride-to-uranium weight ratio in the range of from about 8 to 75, said calcium fluoride having a nitrogen surface area in the range of from about 1 to 200 m.sup.2 /g, to form uranium-bearing particulates, permitting said particulates to settle out of solution, and selectively recovering the resulting aqueous HF solution.  mixing particulate calcium fluoride with said solution to form uranium-bearing particlates,  permitting said particulates to sediment from said solution, and  separating the resulting aqueous HF solution from the settled particulates. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said calcium fluoride is mixed with said solution in an amount providing a calcium fluoride-to-uranium weight ratio in the range of from about 8 to 75. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said calcium fluoride has a nitrogen surface area in the range of from about 1 to 200 m.sup.2 /g. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said resulting solution is separated by filtration. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said resulting solution is separated by decanting. 6. The method of decreasing the uranium content of an aqueous HF solution containing a trace amount of uranium, said method comprising: 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said supernate is recovered by decanting. 8. The method of claim 6 wherein said supernate is recovered by filtration. 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the mixing and settling-out operations are conducted at room temperature. 10. The method of decreasing the uranium content of an aqueous HF solution containing uranium without substantially altering the fluoride content thereof, said method comprising: