METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR LOW DECONTAMINATION PROCESSING OF METALLIC NUCLEAR FUELS

Technical Report · Thu Oct 30 23:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4322507

Brand, G E; Sinizer, D I; Murbach, E W; Hansen, W N; Foltz, J R; Mattern, K L

Low decontamination reprocessing methods for metallic nuclear fuels are under development. Small scale experiments are currently being conducted with gram quantities of irradiated thorium-uranium alloys. In addition, equipment, methods, and techniques are under development for a prototype multikilogram plant to process sigh burn-up uranium metal fuel remotely. Several high temperature methods were investigated as possible processes for the decontamination of thorium reactor fuels. Gram quantities of irradiated thorium uranium alloy were arc-melted between a tungsten electrode and a water-cooled copper hearth in an inert atmosphere. The observed results indicated a 95% removal of cesium and strontium, 70% removal of total rare earths and little or no removal of zirconium and ruthenium. Under extreme conditions excessive amounts of uranium in the Th-U can be evaporated. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., North American Aviation Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-12-014833
• OSTI ID: 4322507
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/1780
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BURNUP-- CESIUM-- COOLING-- COPPER-- DECONTAMINATION-- ELECTRIC ARCS-- FUELS-- FURNACES-- HIGH TEMPERATURE-- INERT GASES-- IRRADIATION-- LABORATORY EQUIPMENT-- MELTING-- RARE EARTHS-- STRONTIUM-- THORIUM-- THORIUM ALLOYS-- URANIUM-- URANIUM ALLOYS-- WATER
EVAPORATION-- QUANTITY RATIO-- RUTHENIUM-- ZIRCONIUM
MINERALOGY, METALLURGY, AND CERAMICS