Uranium carbothermic reduction

Uranium and mixed uranium—plutonium nitrides have a potential use as nuclear fuels for lead cooled fast reactors (136—139). Reactors of this type have been proposed for use ia deep-sea research vehicles (136). However, similar to the oxides, ia order for these materials to be useful as fuels, the nitrides must have an appropriate size and shape, ie, spheres. Microspheres of uranium nitrides have been fabricated by internal gelation and carbothermic reduction (140,141). Another use for uranium nitrides is as a catalyst for the cracking of NH at 550°C, which results ia high yields of H2 (142). 

As previously stated, uranium carbides are used as nuclear fuel (145). Two of the typical reactors fueled by uranium and mixed metal carbides are thermionic, which are continually being developed for space power and propulsion systems, and high temperature gas-cooled reactors (83,146,147). In order to be used as nuclear fuel, carbide microspheres are required. These microspheres have been fabricated by a carbothermic reduction of UO and elemental carbon to form UC (148,149). In addition to these uses, the carbides are also precursors for uranium nitride based fuels. 

In order to be used as nuclear fuel, carbide microspheres are required. These microspheres have been fabricated by a carbothermic reduction of UO3 and elemental carbon to form UC. In addition to these uses, the carbides are also precursors for uranium nitride based fuels. 

Molten-Tin Process for Reactor Fuels (16). Liquid tin is being evaluated as a reaction medium for the processing of thorium- and uranium-based oxide, carbide, and metal fuels. The process is based on the carbothermic reduction of UO2 > nitriding of uranium and fission product elements, and a mechanical separation of the actinide nitrides from the molten tin. Volatile fission products can be removed during the head-end steps and by distilling off a small portion of the tin. The heavier actinide nitrides are expected to sink to the bottom of the tin bath. Lighter fission product nitrides should float to the top. Other fission products may remain in solution or form compounds with... 

Initial experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of car-bothermic reduction of UO2 and nitriding of uranium in molten tin. Nitriding of the product of carbothermic reduction of mixed U02 Pu02 and added fission product elements is one of the steps to be confirmed for this process to be deemed potentially useful. 

The carbothermic reduction processes are usually strongly endothermic and require high temperatures. For example, carbothermic reduction of uranium (U), boron (B), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta) from their oxides requires 2000 000 K and, therefore, application of thermal plasma. In most plasma-chemical carbothermic reduction processes, an arc electrode is prepared from well-mixed and pressed oxide and carbon particles. The arc provides heating of the mixture, stimulating the reduction process on the electrode. Carbon oxides leave the electrode, finalizing the reduction process. 

Carbothermic Plasma-Chemical Reduction of Uranium Oxide (U3O8). Analyze the stoichiometry of the carbothermic reduction of U3O8 (7-24). Explain why the ratio of molar fractions of CO2 and CO in products of the process is not fixed. Find out the relation between the molar fractions of CO2 and CO in the products as a function of initial composition of the solid mixture U3O8-C. Explain why the carbothermic reduction process of UO2 (7-23) assumes only CO in products, while that of U3O8 (7-24) expects formation of CO and CO2. 

Production of Pure Metallic Uranium by Carbothermic Plasma-Chemical Reduction of Uranium Oxides... 

The carbothermic process provides metallic uranium reduction not only from dioxide (UO2) but also from a much more convenient and accessible oxide, UsOs (Wilhelm ... 

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