Development of NF3 Deposit Removal Technology for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

Conference · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006

OSTI ID:21208747

Scheele, R D; McNamara, B K; Rapko, B M; Edwards, M K; Kozelisky, A E; Daniel, R C ^[1]; McSweeney, T I; Maharas, S J; Weaver, P J; Iwamasa, K J ^[2]; Kefgen, R B ^[3]

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1. Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, Battelle Blvd, Richland, Washington 99352 (United States)
2. Battelle Columbus Operations, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201 (United States)
3. WASTREN, Inc., 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, Ohio 45661 (United States)

This paper summarizes the Battelle, Stoller, and WASTREN (BSW) team's efforts, to date, in support of the United States Department of Energy's plans to remove uranium and technetium deposits before decommissioning the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The BSW team investigated nitrogen trifluoride (NF{sub 3}) as a safer yet effective alternative gaseous treatment to the chlorine trifluoride (ClF{sub 3})-elemental fluorine (F{sub 2}) treatment currently used to remove uranium and technetium deposits from the uranium enrichment cascade. Both ClF{sub 3} and F{sub 2} are highly reactive, toxic, and hazardous gases, while NF{sub 3}, although toxic [1], is no more harmful than moth balls [2]. BSW's laboratory thermo-analytical and laboratory-scale prototype studies with NF{sub 3} established that thermal NF{sub 3} can effectively remove likely and potential uranium (UO{sub 2}F{sub 2} and UF{sub 4}) and technetium deposits (a surrogate deposit material, TcO{sub 2}, and pertechnetates) by conversion to volatile compounds. Our engineering evaluations suggest that NF{sub 3}'s effectiveness could be enhanced by combining with a lesser concentration of ClF{sub 3}. BSW's and other's studies indicate compatibility with Portsmouth materials of construction (aluminum, copper, and nickel). (authors)

• Research Organization: WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 13023, Tucson, AZ, 85732-3023 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 21208747
• Report Number(s): INIS-US-09-WM-06297; TRN: US09V1058079534
• Resource Relation: Conference: Waste Management 2006 Symposium - WM'06 - Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management: Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation of Waste Management Professionals, Tucson, AZ (United States), 26 Feb - 2 Mar 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; 17 refs
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALUMINIUM
CHLORINE FLUORIDES
COPPER
DECOMMISSIONING
FLUORINE
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
NICKEL
NITROGEN FLUORIDES
PERTECHNETATES
PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
TECHNETIUM
URANIUM
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
URANYL FLUORIDES
USA