A method for removing rare earth elements from spent fuel by chlorination

By using chlorination and vacuum separation technology, rare earth elements can be safely and efficiently removed from spent fuel, solving the problem of large-scale application in existing technologies. This achieves efficient rare earth element separation without the generation of waste liquid or waste gas, making it suitable for industrial applications.

CN114582541BActive Publication Date: 2025-11-04INSTITUTE OF PROCESS ENGINEERING CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202011371376.5
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-11-30
Publication Date
2025-11-04
Estimated Expiration
2040-11-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing technologies are difficult to safely and efficiently remove rare earth elements from spent fuel in large-scale applications, and there are risks of impurity introduction, waste liquid and waste gas generation, and nuclear proliferation.

Method used

The chlorination method involves mixing uranium tetrachloride with spent fuel and then subjecting the mixture to a chlorination reaction, followed by vacuum separation to obtain a mixture of uranium octoxide and uranium dioxide with rare earth elements removed. The volatiles are then condensed and collected, achieving efficient removal of rare earth elements.

Benefits of technology

It achieves efficient removal of rare earth elements, with a simple process, high safety, no impurity introduction, and no waste liquid or waste gas generation, making it suitable for large-scale processing and reducing the risk of nuclear proliferation.

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Abstract

The present application belongs to the field of chemical separation and spent fuel reprocessing technology, and discloses a method for removing rare earth elements from spent fuel by chlorination. The spent fuel is first pretreated to obtain a mixture of triuranium octaoxide and rare earth oxides, then mixed with uranium tetrachloride and briquetted, and subjected to chlorination reaction to convert the rare earth oxides in the spent fuel into rare earth chlorides. Subsequently, the rare earth chlorides are volatilized and separated by vacuum separation to obtain a mixture of triuranium octaoxide and uranium dioxide from which the rare earth elements have been removed, and the volatilized substances are condensed and collected to obtain rare earth chlorides. The present application has the advantages of high safety, simple process flow, efficient removal of rare earth elements from spent fuel, no introduction of impurities, no waste liquid or waste gas generation, and good industrial application prospect.
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