MULTIKILOCURIE PRODUCTION OF KRYPTON-85
An adsorption process was developed and placed in operation for the recovery of multiliter quantities of radioactive krypton from fission gases resulting from spent-uranium fuel dissolution. The method is also useful for the separation of large quantities of purified xenon and may be useful for concentrating long-lived fission gases for storage. The raw fission gases were passed through charcoal at 900 deg C to convent the oxides of nitrogen to nitrogen and carbon monoxide. The gas was then adsorbed on activated charcoal at temperatures from -30 to -125 deg C. Elution of the adsorbed gas with helium through another activated charcoal column permitted the collection of separate fractions of krypton, xenon, and the other gases (mostly nitrogen). Collection was made in cold traps operating at liquid-nitrogen temperature. The chemical purity of the krypton product was >99% and the radiochemical purity of the Kr/sup 85/ was essentially 100%. The xenon product punity was >98%. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-015656
- OSTI ID:
- 4034532
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-2976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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