Introduction uranium trioxide is an important intermediate in the production of high purity uranium metal as conducted in such plants as that operated for the AEC by Mallinckrodt Chemical Works at Weldon Spring, Missouri. thermal decomposition of a uranyl nitrate hydrate in gas fired, stirred, stainlesssteel pots. uranium trioxide is formed according to equation (1). Currently this step consists of the The pots are filled with the molten salt, heated and stirred until Where n is usually between 3 and 4. The warm UOs powder is then removed from the pot by a vacuum transfer system and the cycle is repeated. A large number of pots is used and each repeats the cycle eevetal times a day. The desirability of a continuous method is suggested by difficulties inherent in the present process. that poor agitation and overheating may result in the formation of large amounts of undesirable UaO,. are apparently responsible for a number of operating difficulties in subsequent steps. In addition, the possible exposure of the operators to uranium oxide dust presents a formidable potential health problem, The material is heat sensitive during"denitration, so The resulting batch-to-batch variations in the product

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