Purification of thorium or uranium, or thorium-uranium alloys

摘要

862,860. Electrolytic refining of thorium and uranium. UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. Oct. 2,1958 [Oct. 9, 1957], No. 31460/58. Class 41. Thorium, uranium, and thorium-uranium alloys are purified by electrolysis in a fused-salt electrolyte, using one of the metals zinc, cadmium, tin, lead, antimony and bismuth in molten condition as cathode. The anode may also consist of one of these molten metals, the thorium or uranium to be refined being placed in contact therewith and separated from direct contact with the electrolyte thereby. The electrolyte may be a fused alkali metal salt or alkaline-earth metal salt. A current density of 200 amps/square dm. is used. The refined metal dissolves in the molten cathode, and the cathode metal is subsequently removed therefrom by volatilization. Alternatively, the thorium or uranium may be added to the bath in the form of a salt, using a carbon anode.