The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Energy

Michael K Richmann

William E Miller

Zygmunt Tomczuk

A method of producing metal chlorides is disclosed in which chlorine gas is introduced into liquid Cd. CdClsalt is floating on the liquid Cd and as more liquid CdClis formed it separates from the liquid Cd metal and dissolves in the salt. The salt with the CdCldissolved therein contacts a metal which reacts with CdClto form a metal chloride, forming a mixture of metal chloride and CdCl. After separation of bulk Cd from the salt, by gravitational means, the metal chloride is obtained by distillation which removes CdCland any Cd dissolved in the metal chloride.

Apparatus and method for making metal chloride salt product

A new process for recycling spent nuclear fuels, in particular, mixed nitrides of transuranic elements and zirconium. The process consists of two electrorefiner cells in series configuration. A transuranic element such as plutonium is reduced at the cathode in the first cell, zirconium at the cathode in the second cell, and nitrogen-15 is released and captured for reuse to make transuranic and zirconium nitrides.

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Carlsbad, NM, United States of America

Michael K Richmann