Fluorine extraction systems and associated processes

Abstract

Fluorine extraction systems and associated processes are described herein. In one embodiment, a fluorine extraction process can include loading a mixture containing a uranium fluoride (U x F y , where x and y are integers) and an oxidizing agent into a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel has a closed bottom section and an opening spaced apart from the bottom section. The fluorine extraction process can also include heating the mixture containing uranium fluoride and the oxidizing agent in the reaction vessel, forming at least one uranium dioxide and a non-radioactive gas product from the heated mixture, and controlling a depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel to achieve a desired reaction yield of the non-radioactive gas product.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A fluorine extraction process, comprising:
 heating a mixture containing a uranium fluoride (U x F y , where x and y are integers) and an oxidizing agent in a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel having a closed bottom and an opening spaced apart from the closed bottom, wherein the mixture is at a depth in the reaction vessel from the closed bottom of the reaction vessel;   forming at least one uranium oxide and a non-radioactive gas product from the heated mixture; and   selecting the depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel based on a target reaction yield and/or a desired reaction rate of the non-radioactive gas product.   
     
     
         18 . The fluorine extraction process of claim  1 , further comprising flowing a gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across the opening of the reaction vessel loaded with the mixture, wherein
 heating the mixture includes heating a mixture containing uranium tetrafluoride (UFO and germanium dioxide (GeO 2 ) in a reaction vessel having a generally semicircular cross section while flowing the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across the opening of the reaction vessel to react uranium tetrafluoride with germanium dioxide as follows:
   3UF 4 +3GeO 2 +O 2 →U 3 O 8 +3GeF 4 ; and 
   selecting the depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel includes selecting the depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel and a flow rate of the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) to achieve a reaction yield of at least 90%, the depth being no more than about 0.25 inches from the bottom of the generally semicircular cross section of the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         19 . The fluorine extraction process of claim  1 , further comprising flowing a gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across the opening of the reaction vessel loaded with the mixture. 
     
     
         20 . The fluorine extraction process of claim  1 , further comprising flowing a gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across a surface of the mixture in the reaction vessel in a direction generally parallel to the surface of the mixture. 
     
     
         21 . The fluorine extraction process of claim  1  further comprising:
 flowing a gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across a surface of the mixture in the reaction vessel; and   controlling a flow rate of the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) based on the target reaction yield and/or the desired reaction rate of the non-radioactive gas product.   
     
     
         22 . The fluorine extraction process of claim  1  wherein forming at least one uranium oxide and the non-radioactive gas product includes selecting the depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel based on a yield of at least 90% of the uranium oxide. 
     
     
         23 . The fluorine extraction process of claim  1  wherein selecting the depth of the mixture includes selecting the depth of the mixture to be less than or equal to about 0.25 inches from the closed bottom of the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         24 . A process for extracting fluorine from a uranium fluoride, comprising:
 placing a mixture containing uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) and a fluorine extraction agent into a reaction vessel, the fluorine extraction agent containing at least one of germanium oxide (GeO), germanium dioxide (GeO 2 ), silicon (Si), boron trioxide (B 2 O 3 ), and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 );   flowing a gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across an exposed surface of the mixture loaded in the reaction vessel in a direction generally parallel to the exposed surface of the mixture; and   extracting fluorine from the uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) in the mixture with the fluorine extraction agent in the presence of the gas containing oxygen.   
     
     
         25 . The fluorine extraction process of  claim 24 , further comprising controlling a flow rate of the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) based on a target reaction yield of extracting fluorine from the uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) in the mixture. 
     
     
         26 . The fluorine extraction process of  claim 24  wherein placing the mixture includes placing the mixture containing uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) and the fluorine extraction agent into a reaction vessel having a closed bottom and an opening, a depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel being less than or equal to about 0.25 inches from the closed bottom of the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         27 . A process for extracting fluorine from a uranium fluoride, comprising:
 placing a mixture containing uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) and a fluorine extraction agent into a reaction vessel;   flowing a gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across an exposed surface of the mixture loaded in the reaction vessel;   heating the mixture to produce a gas product while flowing the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across the exposed surface of the mixture, the gas product not containing a compound of uranium; and   adjusting a flow rate of the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) based on a target reaction yield of the gas product.   
     
     
         28 . The fluorine extraction process of  claim 27 , further comprising penetrating a depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel with the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ). 
     
     
         29 . The fluorine extraction process of  claim 27  wherein flowing the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) includes flowing the gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) across the exposed surface of the mixture loaded in the reaction vessel in a direction generally parallel to the exposed surface of the mixture. 
     
     
         30 . The fluorine extraction process of  claim 27  wherein heating the mixture to produce the gas product includes converting the uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) into at least one uranium dioxide. 
     
     
         31 . The fluorine extraction process of  claim 27  wherein placing the mixture includes placing a mixture containing uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) and a fluorine extraction agent into a reaction vessel, the fluorine extraction agent containing at least one of germanium oxide (GeO), germanium dioxide (GeO 2 ), silicon (Si), boron trioxide (B 2 O 3 ), and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ).