Modification of base-side {sup 99}MO production processes for LEU metal-foil targets.
Argonne National Laboratory is cooperating with the National Atomic Energy Commission of the Argentine Republic (CNEA) to convert their {sup 99}Mo production process, which uses high enriched uranium (HEU), to low-enriched uranium (LEU), The program is multifaceted; however, discussed in this paper are (1) results of laboratory experiments to develop means for substituting LEU metal-foil targets into the current process and (2) preparation of uranium-alloy or uranium-metal/aluminum-dispersion targets. Although {sup 99}Mo production is a multi-step process, the first two steps (target dissolution and primary molybdenum recovery) are by far the most important in the conversion. Commonly, once molybdenum is separated from the bulk of the uranium, the remainder of the process need not be modified. Our results show that up to this point in our study, conversion of the CNEA process to LEU appears viable.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 750524
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CMT/CP-100139; TRN: US200221%%558
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1999 International Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors, Budapest (HU), 10/03/1999--10/08/1999; Other Information: PBD: 30 Sep 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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