Characterization of the Environmentally Induced Chemical Transformations of Uranium Tetrafluoride

Technical Report · Fri Sep 29 00:00:00 EDT 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1395970· OSTI ID:1395970

Wellons, M. ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)

A key challenge with nuclear safeguards environmental sampling is identification of the materials post release due to subsequent chemical reactions with ambient water and oxygen. Uranium Tetrafluoride (UF4) is of interest as an intermediate in both the upstream and downstream portions of uranium feedstock and metal production processes used in nuclear fuel production; however minimal published research exists relating to UF4 hydrolysis. FY16 efforts were dedicated to in-situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction characterization of UF4 during exposure to various relative humidity conditions. This effort mapped several hydrolysis reaction pathways and identified both intermediate, and terminal progeny species.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1395970
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI-2017-00632; TRN: US1800073
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
URANIUM
HYDROLYSIS
NUCLEAR FUELS