Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Blum

Thomas W. Blum 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).

  • Method of separating thorium from plutonium
    Patent number: 4459268
    Abstract: A method of chemically separating plutonium from thorium. Plutonium and thorium to be separated are dissolved in an aqueous feed solution, preferably as the nitrate salts. The feed solution is acidified and sodium nitrite is added to the solution to adjust the valence of the plutonium to the +4 state. A chloride salt, preferably sodium chloride, is then added to the solution to induce formation of an anionic plutonium chloride complex. The anionic plutonium chloride complex and the thorium in solution are then separated by ion exchange on a strong base anion exchange column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David G. Clifton, Thomas W. Blum