THE OXIDATION OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE

摘要

The present invention provides a process for the oxidation of uranium hexafluoride by injecting the uranium hexafluoride and an oxidant gas together into a reaction vessel to form a plume characterised in that a plurality of the said plumes are formed together in the same vessel, the plumes mutually contributing to a circulating product formation stream in the said vessel. The process may include the establishment of three or more plumes simultaneously contributing to the reaction between the gases in the reaction vessel. The oxidant gas may comprise steam. The process may be one in which the product is formed as a particulate solid. The product particles may initially be formed as dentritic particles which may be recirculated in the reaction vessel to promote seeding, growth, agglomeration and aggregation of the required product particles, the plumes thereby contributing to the product formation process in the vessel.