Bulk High-Purity Uranium Chloride Synthesis by Iron Chloride

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

Bulk High-Purity Uranium Chloride Synthesis by Iron Chloride

A simple bulk synthesizing method that only requires a series of heats of simple reagents, as opposed to many steps with dangerous reagents like current methods.

Opportunity:   Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this bulk uranium chloride synthesizing process. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people.

Overview:        Development of bulk-scale uranium trichloride synthesis has been ongoing for several years. Previous methods were eventually discontinued due to complex equipment (high temperature vacuum separation) and inability to produce the required purity (products were consistently contaminated with starting reagents). A simpler and more economic process is needed for next-generation reactors to fully realize their commercial potential.

Description:    Researchers at Idaho National Lab have developed a simpler and more easily scaled approach was attempted with a different reagent. This approach simply requires a standard furnace in an inert atmosphere glovebox. This process indicated residual impurities less than approximately a few hundred parts per million (>99,95%) which is previously unreported for large-scale, high temperature processes.

Benefits:          

• Significantly simpler than previous methods
• Will help enable to commercialization of next-generation reactors.

Applications:    

• Large-scale synthesis of uranium choloride for molten salt reactors.

Development Status:  TRL 6, engineering scale prototype system has been validated in relevant environments.  

IP Status:         Provisional Application No. 63/268,761, “Uranium Chloride Production,” BEA Docket No. BA-1276.

INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.

Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.