The problem of the formation of uranium residue in spent sodium fluoride sorbent is studied. The mechanisms of the formation of un-desorbed uranium residue with thermal desorption of uranium hexafluoride from the surface sodium fluoride are examined. It is proved that hydrolysis of sorbed and gaseous uranium hexafluoride under the conditions of sublimate-separation production is impossible. The most likely mechanism of residue formation is partial reduction of hexavalent uranium, which is due to the chemical properties of the system UF6–NaF. A possible process of uranium reduction as a result of nuclear-chemical transformations requires study and experimental confirmation.
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V. G. Soloviov (Deceased).
Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 109, No. 2, pp. 77–81, August, 2010.
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Gromov, O.B., Mikhalichenko, A.A., Mikheev, P.I. et al. Reduction of uranium hexafluoride adsorbed on sodium fluoride. At Energy 109, 96–101 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-010-9329-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-010-9329-5