THE VOLATILIZATION AND COLLECTION OF RUTHENIUM AND CESIUM IN A SYSTEM FOR INCORPORATING FISSION PRODUCTS INTO GLASS

Technical Report · Fri Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4060366

Bancroft, A R; Watson, L C; Hoelke, C W

During the incorporation of fission products into glass, about 50% of the ruthenium and 2% of the cesium was released as vapor from the mixes. It was not possible to reduce significantly the extent of Ru and Cs volatilization. It was possible to remove the isotopes efficiently from the furnace off-gases to allow their reincorporation into glass. Laboratory tests indicated that a column packed with granules of siliceous firebrick coated with iron oxide was abcut 99% efficient for retnining Ru and better than 95% efficient for Cs. Bed temperatures near 600 deg C were best and a 200 deg spread on either side of this was acceptable. Changes in air velocity from 0.1 to 2 fps at 600 deg did not alter the efficiency. More than 90% of the elements retained was collected on the inlet inch of the 4-in. and 10-in. deep beds. This distribution was favorable for the continuous or intermittent charging and discharging of a collector in a future plant. It was shown that the collector material could be melted into glass without reducing the quality of the glass. The operation of 12- in. deep beds packed with firebrick/iron oxide granules to treat the offgases from 100-curie batches of mixed fission products confirmed the efficient operation observed in the laboratory. The ability to clean the gases further by nitric acid scrubbing was demonstrated. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ont.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-023156
• OSTI ID: 4060366
• Report Number(s): CRCE-1004; AECL-1233
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

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