Methods of Processing Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride. Review

Various methods of processing uranium hexafluoride depleted in U, which is the main byproduct of isotopic enrichment of natural uranium in the production of nuclear fuel, are discussed, viz. reducing it by hydrogen and other hydrogen-containing substances, applying energy effects, using it as a fluorinating agent in the production of fluoro organic and fluoro inorganic substances, low-temperature and high-temperature hydrolysis, including with using plasma torches. The most preferred processing method is shown to be the UF hydrolysis realized by the interaction of uranium hexafluoride with hydrogen-containing substances (methane, hydrogen) and oxygen in the combustion mode. In this case, one can produce storage-friendly uranium oxides and hydrogen fluoride, which can be used to close the nuclear fuel cycle using fluorine. At the same time, there is no need to maintain a high temperature for the surfaces of the technological equipment since the thermal energy in the reaction zone is released during the interaction of the starting materials.