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Home > Nuclear Materials > Fuel Cycle Facilities > Uranium Conversion
Uranium Conversion
After the yellowcake is produced at the mill, the next step is conversion
into pure uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas suitable for use in enrichment
operations. During this conversion, impurities are removed and the uranium is combined with flourine to create the UF6 gas. The UF6 is then pressurized and cooled to a liquid. In its liquid state it is drained into 14-ton cylinders where it solidifies after cooling for approximately five days. The UF6 cyclinder, in the solid form, is then shipped to an enrichment plant. UF6 is the only uranium compound that exists as a gas at a
suitable temperature.
One conversion plant is operating in the United States, Honeywell International
Inc. (Docket No. 40-3392), which is located in Metropolis, Illinois. Other
countries that have conversion plants are Canada, France, United Kingdom,
China, and the Russian Federation.
As with mining and milling, the primary risks associated with conversion
are chemical and radiological. Strong acids and alkalis are used in the
conversion process, which involves converting the yellowcake (uranium
oxide) powder to very soluble forms, leading to possible inhalation of
uranium. In addition, conversion produces extremely corrosive chemicals
that could cause fire and explosion hazards.
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