General Electric Company

Steven J Babb

John L Harmon

Bang M Kim

Roy F Thornton

William R Becker

Fluoride is recovered from an aqueous ammonium fluoride and ammonium hydroxide solution by electrolyzing the solution in an electrochemical cell having an ion-exchange membrane between a catholyte chamber and an anolyte chamber whereby hydrofluoric acid is formed and the concentration of ammonium hydroxide is enriched. Part of the hydrofluoric acid can be combined with the ammonium fluoride remaining after the ammonium hydroxide had been stripped from the treated solution to produce ammonium acid fluoride.

Recovery of fluoride from waste solutions

A one-shot thermal fuse mounted directly on the casing of a centrifugal pump to prevent overheating and concentration of ammonium nitrate. The thermal fuse is screwed into a standard pipe coupling welded to a designated location on the pump casing. The thermal fuse has an electrical contact connected in the pump control circuit. A compressed spring is prevented from urging the electrical contact into an open position by a pellet of fusible material which is designed to melt at a desired threshold temperature below the temperature at which ammonium nitrate explodes. If the heat produced by the pump melts the pellet of fusible material, the spring is released, thereby opening the electrical contact and shutting off the pump. Alternatively, the temperature-sensitive element mounted on the pump casing can be a thermocouple or a temperature switch having a bimetallic element.

Method and apparatus for preventing hazardous explosion of ammonium

The 'Purex' solvent extraction and separation process for recovering uranium from scrap material or spent fuel containing gadolinia is modified by treating uranium containing scrap or spent fuel with nitric acid to convert uranium oxide to soluble uranyl nitrate in an aqueous medium, separating the uranyl nitrate from the aqueous media with an organic medium containing tri-butyl phosphate, and then releasing the separated uranium from the organic medium with water. The improvement comprises monitoring the density of the organic medium and controlling the feed rate of the uranium in the aqueous medium in response to the density measurements.

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Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Steven J Babb