Characterization of airborne plutonium-bearing particles from a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5215432· OSTI ID:5215432

Sanders, Jr, S M

The elemental compositions, sizes, structures, and /sup 239/Pu contents were determined for 299 plutonium-bearing particles isolated from airborne particles collected at various locations in the exhaust from a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility. These data were compared with data from natural aerosol particles. Most of the collected particles were composed of aggregates of crustal materials. Seven percent of the particles were organic and 3% were metallic, viz., iron, chromium, and nickel. High enrichment factors for titanium, manganese, chromium, nickel, zinc, and copper were evidence of the anthropic nature of some of the particles. The amount of plutonium in most particles was very small (less than one femtocurie of /sup 239/Pu). Plutonium concentrations were determined by the fission track counting method. Only one particle contained sufficient plutonium for detection by electron microprobe analysis. This was a 1-..mu..m-diameter particle containing 73% PuO/sub 2/ by weight (estimated to be 170 fCi of /sup 239/Pu) in combination with Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and mica. The plutonium-bearing particles were generally larger than natural aerosols. The geometric mean diameter of those collected from the mechanical line exhaust point where plutonium is converted to the metal was larger than that of particles collected from the wet cabinet exhaust (13.7 ..mu..m vs. 4.6 ..mu..m). Particles from the mechanical line also contained more plutonium per particle than those from the wet cabinets.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-09-0001
• OSTI ID: 5215432
• Report Number(s): DP-1470
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
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PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
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