The application of the Volatility Process for reprocessing spent reactor fuels to zirconium fuel elements requires the conversion of the fuel to a fluoride form. This conversion can be accomplished by the dissolution of such fuels in a bath of molten fluoride salts with a hydrogen fluoride sparge. Studies with dummy zirconium fuel elements showed dissolution rates averaging 2 mg/sq cm-min. The effect of submergence, geometrical configuration, and HF impingement rate appeared more significant than the effect of temperature. Experiments with partially submerged elements have indicated that at temper~tures in the neighborhood of 700 icient laborato C the gas phase …
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The application of the Volatility Process for reprocessing spent reactor fuels to zirconium fuel elements requires the conversion of the fuel to a fluoride form. This conversion can be accomplished by the dissolution of such fuels in a bath of molten fluoride salts with a hydrogen fluoride sparge. Studies with dummy zirconium fuel elements showed dissolution rates averaging 2 mg/sq cm-min. The effect of submergence, geometrical configuration, and HF impingement rate appeared more significant than the effect of temperature. Experiments with partially submerged elements have indicated that at temper~tures in the neighborhood of 700 icient laborato C the gas phase reaction rate can exceed the salt phase rate. The use of the process involves problems with corrosion, with entrainment of solids in the off gas, and with the recovery and recycle of the hydrogen fluoride. Tentative solutions to these problems have been studied. (auth)
Other Information: For presentation at the American Chemical Society's Nuclear Technology Sumposium, Boston, April 5-10, 1959. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
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Horton, R. W. & Whatley, M. E.Dissolution of Zirconium Matrix Fuels in Molten Fluoride Salts,
report,
January 30, 1959;
Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
(https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1016431/:
accessed December 16, 2025),
University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu;
crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
