The invention provides a series of techniques for processing uranium
containing feed materials such as uranium ores, reprocessed uranium,
uranium containing residues and uranium containing spent fuel. The
processes described involve fluorination of uranium containing material,
separation of the uranium containing material from other materials based
on ionization thereof with the non-ionized fluorine containing material
being recycled. Metallic uranium and/or plutonium and/or fission products
may result. The technique offers advantages in terms of the range of
materials which can be reprocessed and a reduction in the number of
complexity of stages which are involved in the process.