UF4

UF4, or uranium tetrafluoride, is an inorganic compound of uranium in the +4 oxidation state with the formula UF4. It appears as a pale yellow to white crystalline solid and is generally handled as a moisture-sensitive material.

Industrial production and chemistry: UF4 is produced primarily as an intermediate in the nuclear fuel cycle. It is obtained by fluorinating uranium oxides, such as UO2 or U3O8, with fluorine gas at elevated temperatures, for example UO2 + 2 F2 → UF4 + O2. In the fuel cycle, UF4 serves as a feedstock for the production of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) through fluorination of UF4 with fluorine gas, a step used to prepare uranium for enrichment by gas centrifuge or gaseous diffusion. UF4 can also be converted to other uranium compounds or reduced to metallic uranium under suitable conditions.

Applications in the nuclear fuel cycle: The principal use of UF4 is as an intermediate in converting uranium to UF6, which is then used for isotope separation to produce reactor-grade uranium. UF4 is also employed, in some processes, as a starting material for further chemical processing or fabrication steps related to nuclear fuels, ceramics, or research materials in licensed facilities.

Properties and handling: UF4 is relatively stable in dry air but reacts with moisture to form hydrofluoric acid-containing species and uranyl fluorides, making handling hazardous. It is radioactive by virtue of containing uranium and requires appropriate safety measures, containment, and regulatory licensing. Storage is typically in dry, well-controlled conditions to minimize hydrolysis and contamination.

Safety and regulation: As a uranium compound, UF4 is subject to strict regulatory control due to radiological and chemical hazards. Handling is restricted to licensed facilities with appropriate containment, monitoring, and waste management procedures.