Recovery of RE-less U From U/RE Ingot by Electrochemical Oxidation Process

Selective oxidation of RE elements from the U/RE metal ingot was studied in this paper using electrochemical process. Constant potential of -1.7V was applied between anode and cathode, where the potential value corresponds to standard potentials between actinide and rare earth materials. When the current values approached to nearly 0 mA, the reaction was finished. It is confirmed from the EPMA analysis that only U part of the U/RE ingot was remained. The metal recovered to the zinc cathode was obtained through the distillation process and it is being chemically analyzed in the KAERI analytical laboratory.