British Nuclear Fuels Plc

Graham Victor Hutson

Kenneth Richard Seddon

Mark Fields

Chris Eaves

Charles Mackintosh Gordon

A method of dissolving in an ionic liquid a metal in an initial oxidation state below its maximum oxidation state, characterized in that the ionic liquid reacts with the metal and oxidizes it to a higher oxidation state. The initial metal may be in the form of a compound thereof and may be irradiated nuclear fuel comprising UO and/or PuO as well as fission products. The ionic liquid typically is nitrate-based, for example a pyridinium or substituted imidazolium nitrate, and contains a Bronstead or Franklin acid to increase the oxidizing power of the nitrate. Suitable acids are HNO , H SO and &lsqb;NO &rsqb;. Imidazolium nitrates and certain pyridinium nitrates form one aspect of the invention.

Ionic liquids as solvents

A process is disclosed for the treatment of a solvent which has been used in nuclear fuel reprocessing or uranium ore purification, the solvent comprising an organophosphate ester and a hydrocarbon diluent. The process includes distilling the solvent under reduced pressure to remove substantially all the diluent and a major proportion of the organic ester, converting organophosphate to inorganic phosphate and encapsulating the residual material.

Nuclear reprocessing solvent treatment

Alkyl phosphates, which may be dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent can be destroyed in a two-stage process, the first stage involving hydrolysis with concentrated alkali to effect partial de-alkylation of the alkyl phosphate the second stage involving catalytic oxidation of the de-alkylated phosphate with hydrogen peroxide. This results in improved safety as oxidation takes place after much of the hydrocarbon has been removed at the first stage.

Growing community of inventors

Cumbria, United Kingdom

Graham Victor Hutson