Catalyzed Electrolytic Plutonium Oxide Dissolution (CEPOD): The past seventeen years and future potential
Catalyzed Electrolytic Plutonium Oxide Dissolution (CEPOD) was first demonstrated at PNL in early 1974 in work funded by EXXON Corporation. That work was aimed at dissolution of Pu-containing residues remaining in mixed-oxide reactor fuels dissolution and was first publicly disclosed in 1981. The process dissolves PuO{sub 2} in an anolyte containing small (catalytic) amounts of elements that form kinetically fast, strongly oxidizing ions. These are continuously regenerated at the anode. Catalysts used, in their oxidized form, include Ag{sup 2+}, Ce{sup 4+}, Co{sup 3+}, and AmO{sub 2}{sup 2+}. This paper reviews the chemistry involved in CEPOD and the results of its application to the dissolution of the Pu content of a variety of PuO{sub 2}-containing materials such as off-standard oxide, fuels dissolution residues, incinerator ash, contaminated soils, and other scrapes or wastes. Results are presented for both laboratory-scale and plant-scale dissolvers. Spin-off applications such as decontamination of metallic surfaces and destruction of organics are discussed. 27 refs., 14 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/NE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6496239
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-18018; CONF-900846-5; ON: DE91004066
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of discovery of transuranium elements, Washington, DC (USA), 26-31 Aug 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Development of the CEPOD process for dissolving plutonium oxide and leaching plutonium from scrap or wastes. [Catalyzed Electrochemical Plutonium Oxide Dissolution (CEPOD)]
DISSOLUTION OF PLUTONIUM METAL USING NITRIC ACID SOLUTIONS CONTAINING POTASSIUM FLUORIDE
Related Subjects
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MIXED OXIDE FUELS
SCRAP METALS
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
RECOVERY
SCRAP
SOLID FUELS
SOLID WASTES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties