Conversion of Plutonium Scrap and Residue to Borosilicate Glass Using the GMODS Process
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Plutonium scrap and residue represent major national and international concerns because (1) significant environmental, safety, and health (ES&H) problems have been identified with their storage; (2) all plutonium recovered from the black market in Europe has been from this category; (3) storage costs are high; and (4) safeguards are difficult. It is proposed to address these problems by conversion of plutonium scrap and residue to a CRACHIP (CRiticality, Aerosol, and CHemically Inert Plutonium) glass using the Glass Material Oxidation and Dissolution System (GMODS). CRACHIP refers to a set of requirements for plutonium storage forms that minimize ES&H concerns. The concept is several decades old. Conversion of plutonium from complex chemical mixtures and variable geometries into a certified, qualified, homogeneous CRACHIP glass creates a stable chemical form that minimizes ES&H risks, simplifies safeguards and security, provides an easy-to-store form, decreases storage costs, and allows for future disposition options. GMODS is a new process to directly convert metals, ceramics, and amorphous solids to glass; oxidize organics with the residue converted to glass; and convert chlorides to borosilicate glass and a secondary sodium chloride stream. Laboratory work has demonstrated the conversion of cerium (a plutonium surrogate), uranium (a plutonium surrogate), Zircaloy, stainless steel, and other materials to glass. GMODS is an enabling technology that creates new options. Conventional glassmaking processes require conversion of feeds to oxide-like forms before final conversion to glass. Such chemical conversion and separation processes are often complex and expensive.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 204647
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951259-3; ON: DE96005738; TRN: 96:008609
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: United States Department of Energy Stabilization and Immobilization Plutonium Workshop, Stabilizations Standards, Technologies, and Applications, Washington, DC (United States), 12-14 Dec 1995; Other Information: PBD: 28 Nov 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PLUTONIUM
VITRIFICATION
BOROSILICATE GLASS
SAFEGUARDS
COST
OXIDATION
SAFETY
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Environmental, Safety, and Health (ES&H)
Glass Material Oxidation and Dissolution System (GMODS)
CRiticality, Aerosol, and CHemically Inert Plutonium (CRACHIP)
High-Level-Waste (HLW)