Separation of uranium hexafluoride from plutonium hexafluoride by means of selective intercalation in graphite

摘要

A method is disclosed for the selective separation and sequestering of plutonium from uranium which comprises contacting a gas stream containing uranium hexafluoride [at a partial pressure of 26 torr or less] and plutonium hexafluoride at any pressure with graphite whereby PuF6 is selectively intercalated into the graphite while UF6 is left unreacted in the gas stream. Preferably, the contacting of UF6 and PuF6 with graphite is conducted in the presence of excess fluorine.