Sampling and characterization of aerosols formed in the atmospheric hydrolysis of UF/sub 6/

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5579444· OSTI ID:5579444

Bostick, W D; McCulla, W H; Pickrell, P W; Branam, D A

When gaseous UF/sub 6/ is released into the atmosphere, it rapidly reacts with ambient moisture to form an aerosol of uranyl fluoride and HF. As part of our Safety Analysis program, we have performed several experimental releases of UF/sub 6/ (from natural uranium) in contained volumes in order to investigate techniques for sampling and characterizing the aerosol materials. The aggregrate particle morphology and size distribution have been found to be dependent upon several conditions, including the relative humidity at the time of the release and the elapse time after the release. Aerosol composition and settling rate have been investigated using isokinetic samplers for the separate collection of UO/sub 2/F/sub 2/ and HF, and via laser spectroscopic remote sensing (Mie scatter and infrared spectroscopy). 8 references.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5579444
• Report Number(s): K/PS-5027; CONF-831025-22; ON: DE84002430
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
URANYL FLUORIDES
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HUMIDITY
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROLYSIS
MORPHOLOGY
PARTICLE SIZE
SAMPLING
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AEROSOLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
LYSIS
NUMERICAL DATA
SIZE
SOLS
SOLVOLYSIS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANYL COMPOUNDS
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)