Recycling process for sinter-active U3O8 powders

Abstract

The effect of the oxidation temperature of UO2 pellets on the powder properties of oxidized U3O8 powders has been investigated. The powder morphology, crystalline size, and BET surface area of recycled U3O8 could be modified by controlling the oxidation temperature of the UO2 pellets. Recycled U 3O8 powder with a high BET surface area and a small particle size could be obtained by lowering the oxidation temperature. It was also found that this low-temperature-oxidized sinter-active U3O 8 powder is effective in mitigating the density drop of the UO 2 pellets when the recycled U3O8 powder is added. Moreover, the recycled powder acted as a grain-size-enlarging promoter in the UO2 pellets. © Atomic Energy Society of Japan.