Production of plutonium oxide comprises continuously drying and calcining plutonium oxalate in the presence of oxygen

摘要

Production of plutonium oxide comprises continuously drying and calcining plutonium oxalate in the presence of oxygen in successive zones of a furnace with gas extraction under vacuum. An Independent claim is also included for apparatus for converting plutonium oxalate to plutonium oxide, comprising: (a) a furnace (1) that has a screw (2) for conveying material successively through a drying zone and a calcination zone, has heating elements (4) for maintaining correct temperatures in the heating and calcination zones, has a plutonium oxalate inlet (11) at one end and a plutonium oxide outlet (12) at the other end, and has an oxygen injection port (9) and a gas extraction port (15); (b) a vacuum pump (P) downstream of the gas extraction port; and preferably (c) a filter unit (F) for removing dust from the extracted gas.