Preparation of powdered uranium oxides by microwave heating of substandard ceramic pellets of oxide nuclear fuel

Microwave (MW) heating of substandard ceramic UO 2 pellets in air allows their rapid conversion into powdered U 3 O 8 , from which UO 2 can be obtained again in a reducing atmosphere. Comparative analysis of the physicochemical and technological properties of the U 3 O 8 and UO 2 powders obtained under the action of MW radiation with the industrial (standard) powders demonstrated their suitability for fabricating fuel pellets. The power consumption for MW heating appears to be lower by an order of magnitude than the power consumption for performing similar operations with electric resistance furnaces.