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PREPARATION OF ThO$sub 2$ FOR HOMOGENEOUS REACTOR BLANKET USE

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4316558· OSTI ID:4316558
The flowsheet for making thorium oxide in 284-lb batches provides for adding 1M oxalic acid to 1M and step-calcined to 1600 deg C for 4 hr. After classification the final product has an average particle size close to 1 mu with less than 2 wt % larger than 5 mu . In laboratory studies thorium oxalate prepared by adding oxalic acid solution to thorium nitrate solution was more uniform and had a smaller average particle size than that prepared by mixing the solutions in reverse. The average particle size of the oxide decreased with decreasing oxalate precipitation temperature and increasing reagent concentration. More uniform oxides were produced by lower oxalate precipitation temperatures, and the fraction ef oversize particles decreased with increasing stirring rate and reagent addition rate. Nearly all the particles that sintered due to packing when fired to 1600 deg C for 4 hr were released by steeping and agitation in oxalic acid nt pH 2.6. (auth)
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
NSA Number:
NSA-12-011004
OSTI ID:
4316558
Report Number(s):
ORNL-2509
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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