The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 2019
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2018
United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC (US);
Steven Herrmann, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Kevin Norbash, Albuquerque, NM (US);
U.S. Department of Enery, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, a method for separating and recovering uranium from a nuclear fuel element. The method includes immersing a nuclear fuel element containing nuclear fuel and cladding in a molten metal. The nuclear fuel includes uranium. The cladding is selectively dissolved from the nuclear fuel element when immersed in the molten metal. The nuclear fuel is separated from the cladding. The method then includes loading the nuclear fuel into a permeable basket that is electrically configured as an anode of an electrolytic cell. There are also a molten salt electrolyte and a cathode in the electrolytic cell. Then, the method includes applying an electric charge across the electrolytic cell. The molten salt electrolyte selectively transfers uranium from the anode to the cathode.