Sampling, characterization, and remote sensing of aerosols formed in the atmospheric hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6040323· OSTI ID:6040323

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

When gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UF/sub 6/) is released into the atmosphere, it rapidly reacts with ambient moisture to form an aerosol of uranyl fluoride (UO/sub 2/F/sub 2/) and hydrogen fluoride (HF). As part of our Safety Analysis program, we have performed several experimental releases of HF/sub 6/ in contained volumes in order to investigate techniques for sampling and characterizing the aerosol materials. The aggregate particle morphology and size distribution have been found to be dependent upon several conditions, including the temperature of the UF/sub 6/ at the time of its release, the relative humidity of the air into which it is released, and the elapsed time after the release. Aerosol composition and settling rate have been investigated using stationary 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). 25 refs., 16 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OT21400
• OSTI ID: 6040323
• Report Number(s): K/PS-5042; ON: DE86006341
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AEROSOLS
AIR SAMPLERS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HUMIDITY
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
NUMERICAL DATA
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PARTICLE SIZE
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
SAMPLERS
SIZE
SOLS
SPECTROSCOPY
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE