Process for separating metals
An electrorefining apparatus is capable of operating in continuous mode, and includes a criticality control mechanism, preferably a geometric criticality control mechanism, for example, to control the dimensions of the apparatus. Electrochemical cells include a large surface area per unit volume, preferably in the form of thin, flat plates. Cells include a crusting liquid cathodes, a cast cathode, a fluidised cell or pulsed bed, a moving belt cathode, a consolidating cathode, or a liquid anode and a plate cathode. A continuous process for the isolation of metals, typically uranium, from spent nuclear fuels includes electrochemically treating the spent nuclear fuels in the apparatus.
1 . An electrorefining apparatus, the apparatus comprising an electrorefining cell having an anode and a cathode, wherein the apparatus is adapted for operation in continuous mode, and includes means for criticality control, the means for criticality control comprising electrochemical cells having a large surface area per unit volume.
2 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for criticality control comprises a thin flat plate.
3 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the thin flat plate is horizontally or vertically disposed.
4 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for the removal of deposited material from the apparatus, following operation.
5 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for removal of deposited material comprises sweeping means, conveyor means or means by which a section of the apparatus may be removed.
6 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vessel, an anode and a crusting liquid cathode.
7 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the crusting liquid cathode comprises a liquid metal cathode or liquid alloy cathode.
8 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vessel, an anode and a cast cathode.
12 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cast cathode comprises a metal or alloy cathode with a lower melting point than uranium metal.
13 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cast cathode is introduced to an electrorefiner cell as a melted liquid cathode which is then frozen to form a solid metal or alloy cathode as a horizontal thin slab.
14 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . An apparatus as claimed in of claim 1 further comprising a fluidised cell or pulsed bed.
17 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the fluidised cell or pulsed bed comprises a vessel including an anode and a cathode which comprises cathode beads or particulates.
18 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a ceramic divider.
19 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the cathode beads or particulates are formed from graphite or uranium.
20 . (canceled)
21 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which comprises a vessel, an anode and a moving belt cathode.
22 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the moving belt cathode is mounted on a pair of rollers.
23 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the moving belt cathode comprises a refractory metal belt.
24 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vessel, an anode and a consolidating cathode.
27 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the consolidating cathode comprises at least one pair of rotating cylinders, the cylinders being suspended vertically.
28 . (canceled)
29 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the cylinders are formed from uranium metal.
30 . (canceled)
31 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vessel, a liquid anode and a plate cathode.
32 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the plate cathode is arranged in sections or modules.
33 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the liquid anode comprises spent fuel pre-dissolved or slurried in liquid metal or alloy.
34 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the plate cathode comprises a horizontal thin slab positioned above the anode in parallel plate arrangement.
35 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the plate cathode is comprised of uranium.
36 . A continuous process for the isolation of metals from spent nuclear fuels, the process comprising electrochemically treating the spent nuclear fuels in an apparatus according to claim 1 .
37 . A process as claimed in claim 36 further comprising the electrochemical separation of uranium metal from spent nuclear fuel, the spent nuclear fuel comprising reduced metal oxides.
38 - 40 . (canceled)
41 . A process as claimed in claim 36 wherein an electrolyte is introduced into the apparatus, the electrolyte comprising molten salt or an ionic liquid.
42 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the sweeping means comprises a scraper.
48 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anode is adapted for use in a continuous process.