The Palmolive cycle at Hanford

Technical Report · Fri Jul 10 04:00:00 EDT 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10166444· OSTI ID:10166444

Beard, S J; Judson, B F

The Palmolive program is directed toward the recovery of neptunium-237 and production of plutonium-238. The neptunium is recovered during the chemical processing of irradiated uranium and is purified and fabricated into target elements. The target elements are irradiated to produce plutonium-238 by neutron capture of neptunium-237 and are processed to provide plutonium for shipment to the final customer and neptunium for recycle within the system. This report summarizes a preliminary engineering study of the technical and economic factors involved in installing long-term Palmolive manufacturing facilities at Hanford to meet the reduced production goals. Prime emphasis is placed on the process technology and plant equipment requirements for fabricating and reprocessing neptunium target elements on a production basis. The relationships of these phases of the target cycle to the recovery and purification of virgin neptunium in the Purex Plant and irradiation of target elements in the Hanford reactors are reviewed in the light of the reduced plutonium-238 demands.

• Research Organization: Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 10166444
• Report Number(s): HW--60827-Del.; ON: DE93017348
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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