Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide cleaning of plutonium parts

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:10108391

Hale, S J

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide is under investigation in this work for use as a cleaning solvent for the final cleaning of plutonium parts. These parts must be free of organic residue to avoid corrosion in the stockpile. Initial studies on stainless steel and full-scale mock-up parts indicate that the oils of interest are easily and adequately cleaned from the metal surfaces with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide. Results from compatibility studies show that undesirable oxidation or other surface reactions are not occurring during exposure of plutonium to the supercritical fluid. Cleaning studies indicate that the oils of interest are removed from the plutonium surface under relatively mild conditions. These studies indicate that supercritical fluid carbon dioxide is a very promising cleaning medium for this application.

• Research Organization: EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC34-90DP62349
• OSTI ID: 10108391
• Report Number(s): RFP--4530; CONF-911273--1; ON: DE92004003
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050900
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400702
42 ENGINEERING
420203
CARBON DIOXIDE
CLEANING
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
OILS
PLUTONIUM
PROPERTIES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REMOVAL
SUPERCRITICAL STATE
TRANSPORT, HANDLING, AND STORAGE