Patents by Inventor Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez

Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9562297
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20160251768
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson
  • Patent number: 9382632
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20140374272
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson