CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION SUMMARY REPORT FOR JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1957
Fluoride Volatilization Separations Processes. The testing of graphite as a container material for the hydrofluorination step was continued. Studies were conducted on the dissolution rates of Zr and Zr alloys in molten NaF-ZrF/sub 4/. Experiments were performed with macro quantities of inactive Nb to clarify its behavior as a fission product in the fused salt process. The thermal stability of non-volatile UF/sub 6/-KF compound was investigated. Further data were obtained on the reactions of plutonium fluorides. A study of the fractional distillation of BrF-UF/sub 6/ mixtures was made. An evaluation was made of corrosion coupons of monel, nickel, type 304 stainless steel, and mild steel. Fluidization Studies. Development of a fluidized-bed process for production of UF/sub 4/ from refined UO/sub 2/(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ solution was resumed. The waste calciner was operated to study the effect of calcination temperature on volatilization of Ru from dilated ICPP waste. Work continued on a potential method for separation of U from Zr alloy fuel by dissolution, calcination, and fluorination. Reactor Chemistry. The program to clarify the factors governing the pyrophoric characteristics of U, Zr, Th, and Pu has continued. Isothermal oxidation kinetics of Zr are not changed by oxygen pressure nor by various surface preparations on parallelepiped samples. Alloys of Sn and Pt have shown breakaway phenomena after a period of time. Fission yields at mass 89, mass 137, and mass 140 were determined for fast fission of Pu/sup 239/. Chemical- Metallurgical Processing. Pyrometallurgical methods of reprocessing discharged nuclear reactor fuel are being developed. An investigation of factors affecting the distribution of Zr in melt-refined products of equilibrium"fissium" materials was initiated. An investigation has begun to determine the feasibility of purifying metallic materials by solution in a metallic solvent, followed by a series of physical or chemical operations. Studies of the ternary phase diagram (Zn-U-Pu) were undertaken to determine the separability of U and Pu. The coprecipitation of Pu with U-Zn intermetallic compounds was studied. Several studies are underway to determine thermodynamic properties of solutions and solids in the U-Zn system. Testing of methods and equipment for trapping volatilized metals (Na and Ce) was continued. Analytical Research and Services. Methods for chromatographic separation of Se, Te, Po, and Bi are presented. (W.L.H.)
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-001429
- OSTI ID:
- 4190221
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-5789(Del.)
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Decl. with deletions Aug. 8, 1958. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION SUMMARY REPORT FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 1958
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION SUMMARY REPORT FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 1959
Related Subjects
BEHAVIOR- BROMINE FLUORIDES- COPPER ALLOYS- CORROSION- DISTILLATION- EVAPORATION- FISSION PRODUCTS- FLUORIDES- FLUORINATION- FUSED SALTS- GRAPHITE- HEATING- MELTING- MONEL- NICKEL- NICKEL ALLOYS- NIOBIUM- PLUTONIUM FLUORIDES- POTASSIUM FLUORIDES- SEPARATION PROCESSES- SODIUM FLUORIDES- STABILITY- STAINLESS STEELS- STEELS- TESTING- URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE- VESSELS- ZIRCONIUM- ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS- ZIRCONIUM FLUORIDES
BEHAVIOR- CERIUM- CHEMICAL REACTIONS- DISTRIBUTION- FISSION PRODUCTS- FUELS- IMPURITIES- INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS- METALLURGY- METALS- PHASE DIAGRAMS- PLUTONIUM- PRECIPITATION- REACTORS- REPROCE