Defluorination behavior and mechanism of uranium dioxide

Abstract

The residual fluorine in ammonium uranyl tricarbonate (AUC) cannot be removed, while a large part of residual fluorine in ammonium diuranate (ADU) can be removed, when AUC and ADU are decomposed and reduced under dry hydrogen atmosphere. UO2 was prepared by decomposing and reducing AUC and ADU in dry hydrogen atmosphere. The defluorination kinetics of UO2 at 500–700°C in atmosphere of 50% H2-50% H2O was investigated. The results show that the defluorination kinetics supports the Lindman's assertion that the residual fluorine forms a solid-solution in UO2.