Microscopic analysis of Pu-contaminated incinerator ash: Implications for immobilization
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Chemical Technology Div.
In this paper, a nanometer-scale mineralogical study with analytical transmission electron microscopy (AEM) of plutonium-bearing incinerator ash from the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS) in Colorado is described. The findings from this work may have implications for the present effort to immobilize plutonium waste. Around 70% of the plutonium ash in the DOE weapons complex is stored at RFETS. The ash was formed from the combustion of contaminated wastes generated from plutonium processing. The RFETS incinerator ash composition has been determined by Blum et al. The ash was formed at temperatures estimated to be between 200 C and 900 C and contains up to 14 wt% Pu. Ash is a generic term used to describe the by-product of combustion and owing to the variability in the inorganic components.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 537243
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CMT/CP-92884; CONF-970844-5; ON: DE97008379; TRN: 98:008380
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Plutonium futures: the science, Santa Fe, NM (United States), 25-27 Aug 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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