Patent Number: 041939530
Section: claims

1. A method of producing breeder or fuel and breeder kernels for fuel elements of nuclear reactors comprising the steps of: making a hydrosol containing a dispersed particle phase selected from the group consisting of thorium oxide and mixtures thorium oxide and uranium (VI) oxide which mixtures have a hexavalent uranium content not exceeding 25% by weight of the aggregate amount of heavy metal, and hydrosol having a heavy metal concentration between 1.5 and 3 moles per liter, and  injecting said hydrosol substantially horizontal in the form of drops into a gas phase enriched with ammonia gas overlying an ammonium hydroxide containing precipitation bath held at a pH value between 8 and 9, so that said drops fall by gravity through said gas phase while being affected by the ammonia content thereof and are immersed in said precipitation bath and hardened therein. 2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said precipitation bath contains ammonium nitrate at a concentration of at least 3 moles per liter. 3. A method as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which the injection of said hydrosol into said gas phase in the form of drops is carried out at a hydrosol temperature between 30.degree. C. and 60.degree. C.