232,234,236U Removal from Contaminated Waste Uranium Hexafluoride in a Double Cascade

Abstract

Two schemes with double cascades are presented for purifying waste uranium hexafluoride with high ^232,234,236U content. A large flow of native uranium hexafluoride and a low flow of waste uranium hexafluoride are fed into the first cascade. One of the external outgoing streams contains low-enrichment uranium hexafluoride with prescribed ²³⁵U concentration <5%. The ²³⁵U concentration of the second outgoing stream coincides with the feed concentration of waste uranium hexafluoride. ^232,234,236U concentration reduction occurs in this stream, corresponding to purified waste uranium hexafluoride. The obtained products can be used effectively for enrichment in a cascade meeting ASTM C 996–15 specifications for low-enrichment commercial uranium.