DEVELOPMENT OF THE SULFEX PROCESS FOR DECLADDING STAINLESS-STEEL-CLAD POWER REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS WITH SULFURIC ACID
A flowsheet, based on laboratory studies, was designed for processing the fuel proposed for the Yankee Atomic Power Reactor by the Sulfex process. This process consists of selective dissolution of the stainless steel cladding by sulfuric acid, with subsequent dissolution of the exposed UO/sub 2/ core in nitric acid. With appropriate modifications, the process should be applicable to other stainless steel-clad reactor fuels. With unirradiated fuel specimens, dissolution of type 304L stainless steel cladding proceeded at rates of 2-5 mg/cm/ sup 2//min in boiling 4 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/; the rate appeared somewhat lower with irradiated specimens. From 0.01 to 0.02% of the uranium was lost to the decladding solution. The spent decladding solution may be neutralized with lime to form a plasterlike solid waste; open-pit disposal of this waste appears feasible. Suhsequent dissolution of the UO/sub 2/ core proceeded readily in nitric acid, yielding a concentrated uranyl nitrate solution which may be readily processed in existing Purex solvent extraction facilities. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-009846
- OSTI ID:
- 4288332
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-2461
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT SECTION B MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT, MARCH 1960
SULFEX PROCESS: ENGINEERING SCALE SEMICONTINUOUS DECLADDING OF UNIRRADIATE STAINLESS STEEL-CLAD UO$sub 2$ AND UO$sub 2$-ThO$sub 2$