CONTINUOUS DISSOLUTION OF PLUTONIUM-BEARING SLAG AND CRUCIBLE RESIDUES

Technical Report · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4807310· OSTI ID:4807310

Crocker, H W

Laboratory runs demonstrated successful dissolution of plutonium-bearing slag and crucible residues. The plutonium recovery was quantitative. Vigorous reaction during initial dissolution of each solids charge caused formation of large quantities of reaction foam. While the foam subsides in a few minutes, the foam volume could result in a boilover from the dissolver. Charging of smaller batches more frequently will minimize the problem. All the experimental runs exhibited the formation of a residual solids heel in the dissolver. Since heel dissolution is slow, periodic dissolver clean-out runs will be required to maintain a low heel volume. Any excessive solids heel buildup can be removed and dissolved in a lengthy batch treatment using 4M HNO/sub 3/ or 6M HCl. The residne in a 32-hour continuous run was 8% by weight of the solids charged. It was determined that a 27.5 g/l iodate concentration was required in the dissolver overflow solution to precipitate plutonium iodate. The iodate concentration in the continuous dissolver is much less than this value (<5 g/l); therefore, formation of this inextractable precipitate should not be encountered. Dissolver overflow solution adjusted to solvent extraction feed composition was contacted with 20% TBP-80% CCl/sub 4/ (volume basis). Four stages of extraction reduced the plutonium concentration in the aqueous feed to 0.003 g/l. Storage of feed material for five days did not effect the plutonium extraction. The presence of up to 0.08M titanium or 0.3M sulfate did not decrease the extractability of the plutonium. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-16-011781
• OSTI ID: 4807310
• Report Number(s): HW-69415-RD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONCENTRATION
CRUCIBLES
EFFICIENCY
FOAMS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
IMPURITIES
IODATES
LEACHING
NITRIC ACID
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PRECIPITATION
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
RECOVERY
RESIDUES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLAGS
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STORAGE
SULFATES
TBP
TESTING
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
VESSELS
VOLUME
WATER