Development of a fluidized-bed combustion process for recovering uranium from spent graphite-matrix nuclear rocket (Rover) fuels is described. The graphite matrix is removed "by combustion in a bed of inert alumina particles fluidized by oxygen;the uranium and other metals in the fuel are converted to their oxides. Uranium oxide, U308, and other metallic oxides are removed from the burner by elutriation and enter the dissolution phase of the headend process.
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