An apparatus (1) for thermal denitration of a uranyl nitrate hydrate to uranium trioxide UO3. The apparatus (1) comprises a burner (114) and a reaction chamber (110) configured to carry out thermal denitration of uranyl nitrate hydrate and to form uranium trioxide UO3 in the form of particles. The apparatus also comprises a separating chamber (120) suitable for separating UO3 particles from the gases resulting from the thermal denitration carried out in the reaction chamber (110), and at least one filter (130) configured for purifying the gases. The separating chamber (120) is a decanting chamber into which the reaction chamber (110) directly opens out. The filter (130) is capable of performing the separation at a temperature greater than or equal to 350 C. The invention also relates to use of such an apparatus, to a thermal denitration process and to UO3 particles obtained by such a process.

A process for generating droplets with a modulatable droplet size distribution, comprises: making a stream of liquid strike a support with a given relative impact velocity; making said support vibrate at at least one vibration frequency; heating said support to a impact temperature such that the liquid film formed by the impact and made to vibrate is heated to a principal temperature to form in combination what are called principal droplets from said film; and transporting said droplets via a transfer/braking/sorting system to a liquid for precipitating the principal droplets, said transportation being carried out at a transportation temperature, all of these parameters, namely the relative impact velocity, the vibration frequency, the principal temperature and the transportation temperature allowing the droplet size of said formed principal droplets and the velocity of the latter to be modulated. A device allowing the process to be implemented is also provided.

A process for generating droplets with a modulatable droplet size distribution, comprises: making a stream of liquid strike a support with a given relative impact velocity; making said support vibrate at at least one vibration frequency; heating said support to a impact temperature such that the liquid film formed by the impact and made to vibrate is heated to a principal temperature to form in combination what are called principal droplets from said film; and transporting said droplets via a transfer/braking/sorting system to a liquid for precipitating the principal droplets, said transportation being carried out at a transportation temperature, all of these parameters, namely the relative impact velocity, the vibration frequency, the principal temperature and the transportation temperature allowing the droplet size of said formed principal droplets and the velocity of the latter to be modulated. A device allowing the process to be implemented is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

Metal oxides having a lower activation temperature and enhanced oxygen mobility are disclosed. The metal oxides comprise oxygen (O), cerium (Ce) and one or both of iron (Fe) and uranium (U). Also disclosed are methods for producing hydrogen or carbon monoxide from water or carbon dioxide using the metal oxides.

Metal oxides having a lower activation temperature and enhanced oxygen mobility are disclosed. The metal oxides comprise oxygen (O), cerium (Ce) and one or both of iron (Fe) and uranium (U). Also disclosed are methods for producing hydrogen or carbon monoxide from water or carbon dioxide using the metal oxides.

A crucible used for forming ceramic particles from metal oxide gel particles includes a tubular graphite housing having an open end, an inner surface, and a seat in the inner surface near the open end. A sleeve lines the inner surface of the tubular housing. The sleeve has at an open end and is formed from a metal which is chemically inert to the metal oxide gel particles. A graphite outer cap removably covers the open end of the tubular housing. An inner cap formed from the chemically inert metal fits into the seat in the inner surface of the tubular housing, and is pressed into the seat against the open end of the sleeve by the outer cap. The crucible may be used for forming ceramic particles from uranium oxide gel particles, and the sleeve and the inner cap may be formed from molybdenum, tungsten, or an alloy thereof.

A crucible used for forming ceramic particles from metal oxide gel particles includes a tubular graphite housing having an open end, an inner surface, and a seat in the inner surface near the open end. A sleeve lines the inner surface of the tubular housing. The sleeve has at an open end and is formed from a metal which is chemically inert to the metal oxide gel particles. A graphite outer cap removably covers the open end of the tubular housing. An inner cap formed from the chemically inert metal fits into the seat in the inner surface of the tubular housing, and is pressed into the seat against the open end of the sleeve by the outer cap. The crucible may be used for forming ceramic particles from uranium oxide gel particles, and the sleeve and the inner cap may be formed from molybdenum, tungsten, or an alloy thereof.

A system for extracting uranium from wet-process phosphoric acid (WPA), includes an ion exchange resin or solvent extractor for separating uranium from WPA to produce a loaded uranium solution stream and a uranium depleted WPA stream. An ion exchange resin is positioned to receive the loaded uranium solution stream and bind uranium species thereto. An anion solution stream is positioned to feed a solution comprising anions onto the ion exchange resin to form a loaded uranium eluant stream. The loaded uranium eluant stream may then be treated to provide a uranium containing product.