Study on reactivity of uranium oxide prepared by thermal denitration

The uranyl nitrate solution is converted to uranium oxide mainly by ADU precipitation route or by denitration route. The number of processing steps is reduced by processing through denitration route and it avoids handling the ammonia also. However, the product characteristics of the UO₃/U₃O₈ prepared by both the routes are not same and it has got significant effect on its further conversion to other products viz. to UO₂, UF₄ or to U metal. The uranium oxide has been prepared by ChED, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre by thermal denitration route. In this paper, the operating experience of the reduction and hydrofluorination of UO₃/U₃O₈ produced by denitration route as compared to that produced by ADU route has been discussed. The UO₃/U₃O₈ produced by denitration has mean particle size ranging from 2μm to 300 μm as compared to 15-30 μm in the case of ADU route