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Title: CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, UNIT OPERATIONS SECTION MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 1959

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4187578

A steady state, uranyl nitrate concentration profile was established across a water-TBP interface and was analyzed by means of photographic photometry. Survey of the literatare indicated that H/sub 2/ and CO in the helium coolant of the gas-cooled reactor may be oxidized to CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O in a bed of mixed copper oxides at bed temperatures between 1000 and 1200 ction prod- F with less than 1 ppm O/sub 2/ in the effluent gas. Classification of the 38 pounds of 2 mu flame calcined thoria was completed. Studies of uranium loading rate on sulfateequilibrated 1200 mu Dowex 21K from average sulfate solutions continued to give apparent uranium diffusion coefficients of approximately 1.3 x 10/sup -7/ sq cm/sec for sulfate concentration up to 0.30 M. In the Thorex core dissolution of unirradiated Consolidated Edison fuel pellets (UO/sub 2/ThO/sub 2/ , 96%) using a flooded pot recycle technique (dissolver product is continuously combined with feed dis solvent), approximately 90% of the pellets was dissolved in 8 hrs. The results of 13 semi-continuous Sulfex dissolutions of 304L stainless steel with boiling 6 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and 4 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ showed that the reaction rates and product solution loadings were 15 to 18% and 12% higher, respectively, for the 4 M acid for the same ratios of dissolvent flow rate to initial surface area. Centrifugation tests of Sulfex declad liquors produced centrifuge cakes averaging 0.5 volume % of the initial volume. In a single batch leaching of 3.9 kg of U as unnirradiated UO/sub 2/ from 0.4-in. diameter stainless steel jacketed tubular fuel in boiling 13 M HNO/sub 3/, the uranium was dissolved in approximately 35 minutes at an average rate of 0.044 g/ min-g of U initially present. Work was started to evaluate the now capacity and stage efficiency of pulse columns as a function of operating variables and cartridge design for application to reprocessing power reactor fuels. A study of the sorption of UF/sub 6/ from a stream diluted by a gas inert to NaF has been undertaken to provide data for careful design of sorption systems. Initial tests with the 8-in. diam by 78-in. long pot calciner under conditions of maximum feed rate indicated the need for additional de-entrainment within the pot to prevent solids buildup in the off-gas line. (For preceding period see CF-59-10-77.) (auth)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
NSA Number:
NSA-14-010520
OSTI ID:
4187578
Report Number(s):
CF-59-11-54
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English