Sampling and characterization of aerosols formed in the atmospheric hydrolysis of UF/sub 6/

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5579444· OSTI ID:5579444

Bostick, W D; McCulla, W H; Pickrell, P W; Branam, D A

When gaseous UF/sub 6/ is released into the atmosphere, it rapidly reacts with ambient moisture to form an aerosol of uranyl fluoride and HF. As part of our Safety Analysis program, we have performed several experimental releases of UF/sub 6/ (from natural uranium) in contained volumes in order to investigate techniques for sampling and characterizing the aerosol materials. The aggregrate particle morphology and size distribution have been found to be dependent upon several conditions, including the relative humidity at the time of the release and the elapse time after the release. Aerosol composition and settling rate have been investigated using isokinetic samplers for the separate collection of UO/sub 2/F/sub 2/ and HF, and via laser spectroscopic remote sensing (Mie scatter and infrared spectroscopy). 8 references.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5579444
• Report Number(s): K/PS-5027; CONF-831025-22; ON: DE84002430
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AEROSOLS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HUMIDITY
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLYSIS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
LYSIS
MORPHOLOGY
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE SIZE
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
SAMPLING
SIZE
SOLS
SOLVOLYSIS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANYL COMPOUNDS
URANYL FLUORIDES