Patent ID: 7097747

Claim:
A device for electrorefining uranium and other metals contained in spent metallic nuclear fuels, the device comprising: a) a hopper positioned above a first containment vessel and having a means of passage to the containment vessel; b) a first anode comprising the first containment vessel, a segmented belt, segment connectors, shredded nuclear fuel, and a drive sprocket in electrical communication wherein the segmented belt transports the fuel between the first and a second containment vessel; c) a first cathode comprising a cylindrical drum suspended within an annular space of the first containment vessel; d) a first electrolytic salt bath contained within the first containment vessel in electrical communication with the first anode and first cathode; e) a second anode comprising the segmented belt and the drive sprocket in electrical communication; f) a second cathode comprising the second containment vessel; g) a second electrolytic salt bath in electrical communication with the second anode and second cathode; h) a scraper for removing elemental uranium dendrites from the first cathode; and i) a receptacle for collecting the uranium dendrites.