Criteria for the safe storage of lithium metal and lithium compounds at the Y-12 Plant
- comp.
Considerable quantities of lithium-based materials are being generated as a result of the nuclear weapons disassembly process. The lithium from these materials, in the form of lithium hydride (LiH) and lithium deuteride (LiD), is enriched in the lithium-6 ({sup 6}Li) isotope and is considered to be an accountable nuclear material. These materials are neither radioactive nor fissile, but they are integral components of nuclear weapons. The LiD functions as a fuel for thermonuclear fusion and the LiH functions as a neutron moderator. Current plans are to store such materials in a suitable chemical form until they are needed for building future weapons or for other undefined uses. Because no domestic capability exists for producing enriched {sup 6}Li and because {sup 6}Li is an integral component of nuclear weapons, it must be stored safely, securely, and in an environmentally compliant form.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 162490
- Report Number(s):
- Y/ES-013; ON: DE96003582; TRN: 96:003151
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jul 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
ROTATIONAL MAGNETIC MOMENTS OF LITHIUM HYDRIDE AND DEUTERIDE
A /sup 1/. sigma. /sup +/. -->. X /sup 1/. sigma. /sup +/ bands of the isotopic lithium hydrides