Pyrometallurgical Processes for Thorium-Uranium Fuel: Semiannual Progress Report, January-June 1956
- North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
Exploratory studies are being conducted on the pyrochemical processing of Th-U fuel. Tracer level fission product decontamination studies using the de Boer iodide process with irradiated thorium have been terminated. This process will remove Cs, Sr, Ce, rare earths, and Ru. Zirconium and Pa are not removed. Evaporation of fission products from crucible-contained melts of irradiated Th-(3 w/o)U alloy has been investigated. Cesium, Sr, Te, Ce, and rare earths were volatilized. The three first-mentioned activities are also evaporated from heated, unmelted alloy which had been subjected to hydriding and dehydriding to increase surface area. Volatilization of fission product activities from arc-melted thorium alloy has yielded decontamination similar to that obtained from crucible-contained melts. Research concerning solid and liquid oxide slagging of irradiated Th-U alloy has been completed. The latest data obtained have shown removal of 76 per cent Ce and rare earths, 100 per cent Sr, smaller amounts of Te and Zr and negligible fractions of Pa and Ru. Salt bed decontamination studies processing irradiated Th-(10 w/o)U alloy with calcium fluoride columns have demonstrated 83 to 98 per cent removal of Ce, rare earths, Y, Te, Sr and Ce. Protactinium, Zr, and Ru wer not extracted by the salt column. A research and development study of the electrorefining of thorium from molten halide baths has been initiated.
- Research Organization:
- North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(11-1)-GEN-8
- NSA Number:
- NSA-11-003756
- OSTI ID:
- 4361684
- Report Number(s):
- NAA-SR--1710
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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