Patent ID: 8728975

Claim:
A method of producing a uranium oxide catalyst body, the method comprising the following steps: a) sintering a UO 2+x powder having a purity of at least 50% in a first sintering stage to obtain a UO 2+y intermediate, wherein x≦0.7 and y≦0.25; b) oxidizing the UO 2+y intermediate with oxygen and thus converting the UO 2+y intermediate into a U 3 O 8−z powder, wherein z≦1; c) pressing the U 3 O 8−z powder to obtain a blank having a shape substantially corresponding with the catalyst body to be produced; and d) sintering the blank at a temperature of at least 900° C. in an oxygen-containing sintering atmosphere in a second sintering stage to produce the uranium oxide catalyst body with open porosity.