Glove box operations for transplutonium element productions

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5613050

Knauer, J B; Alexander, C W; Wiggins, J T

Glove boxes are used in the Transuranium Processing Plant (TRU) at Oak Ridge National Lab. for (a) completing the final chemical processing steps to isolate and purify transplutonium elements, (b) packaging transplutonium elements for shipment, (c) preirradiation and postirradiation processing of samples used to produce special transplutonium isotopes in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), and (d) conducting special projects, which include providing highly purified transplutonium products in special chemical forms and/or in experimental devices as requested by researchers. During 20 yr of operation, the quantities of transplutonium elements produced, and thus the amount of radioactivity handled, have continually increased. At the same time, substantial effort has been expended to reduce personnel radiation exposures. Equipment and techniques have been developed to maintain the desired operational capabilities in the glove boxes while keeping radiation exposures to operating personnel as low as reasonably achievable. Developments have included the design and fabrication of product handling and collection devices, product storage containers, and laminated exterior shields of lead glass, lead acrylic, acrylic sheets, polyethylene, and lead.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• OSTI ID: 5613050
• Report Number(s): CONF-860610-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 52
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420202* -- Engineering-- Protective Structures & Equipment
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GLOVEBOXES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS HANDLING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPERATION
ORNL
RADIATION PROTECTION
SHIELDING
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS