Photochemical removal of NpF sub 6 and PuF sub 6 from UF sub 6 gas streams
A novel photochemical method of removing reactive fluorides from UF{sub 6} gas has been discovered. This method reduces generated waste to little more than the volume of the removed impurities, minimizes loss of UF{sub 6}, and can produce a recyclable by-product, fluorine gas. In our new method, impure UF{sub 6}, is exposed to ultraviolet light which dissociates the UF{sub 6} to UF{sub 5} and fluorine atom. Impurities which chemically react with UF{sub 5} are reduced and form solid compounds easily removed from the gas while UF{sub 5} is converted back to UF{sub 6}. Proof-of-concept testing involved UF{sub 6} containing NpF{sub 6} and PuF{sub 6} with CO added as a fluorine atom scavenger. In a single photolysis step, greater than 5000-fold reduction of PuF{sub 6} was demonstrated while reducing NpF{sub 6} by more than 40-fold. This process is likely to remove corrosion and fission product fluorides that are more reactive than UF{sub 6} and has been demonstrated without an added fluorine atom scavenger by periodically removing photogenerated fluorine gas. 44 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6162248
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-900846-6; ON: DE91004416
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Removal of fluoride impurities from UF/sub 6/ gas
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
400500 -- Photochemistry
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
FISSION PRODUCTS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IMPURITIES
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
NEPTUNIUM COMPOUNDS
NEPTUNIUM FLUORIDES
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM FLUORIDES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE