Patent ID: 8367026

Claim:
A method for converting depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) to uranium free sulfur tetrafluoride and triuranium octaoxide (U 3 O 8 ), comprising the steps of: heating in a first step a mixture of uranium tetrafluoride and an alkaline compound in a first step at 350 degrees C. to 650 degrees C. in a reaction chamber for 60 minutes to 240 minutes to produce a mixture of the respective alkaline fluoride and U 3 O 8 ; continuously flushing said reaction chamber with dry air during heating; filtering reaction offgases to prevent particulate uranium from escaping from said reaction chamber; heating in a second step the mixture of the respective alkaline fluoride and U 3 O 8 from said first step, combined with sulfur (S) and a halogen, at a temperature of 25 degrees C. to 80 degrees C., for 6 hours to 120 hours; to produce sulfur tetrafluoride (SF 4 ) gas, and solid of the corresponding metal halide and U 3 O 8 as byproducts.