Catalyzed Electrolytic Plutonium Oxide Dissolution (CEPOD): The past seventeen years and future potential

Conference · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6496239

Ryan, J L; Bray, L A; Wheelwright, E J; Bryan, G H

Catalyzed Electrolytic Plutonium Oxide Dissolution (CEPOD) was first demonstrated at PNL in early 1974 in work funded by EXXON Corporation. That work was aimed at dissolution of Pu-containing residues remaining in mixed-oxide reactor fuels dissolution and was first publicly disclosed in 1981. The process dissolves PuO{sub 2} in an anolyte containing small (catalytic) amounts of elements that form kinetically fast, strongly oxidizing ions. These are continuously regenerated at the anode. Catalysts used, in their oxidized form, include Ag{sup 2+}, Ce{sup 4+}, Co{sup 3+}, and AmO{sub 2}{sup 2+}. This paper reviews the chemistry involved in CEPOD and the results of its application to the dissolution of the Pu content of a variety of PuO{sub 2}-containing materials such as off-standard oxide, fuels dissolution residues, incinerator ash, contaminated soils, and other scrapes or wastes. Results are presented for both laboratory-scale and plant-scale dissolvers. Spin-off applications such as decontamination of metallic surfaces and destruction of organics are discussed. 27 refs., 14 figs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6496239
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-18018; CONF-900846--5; ON: DE91004066
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ELEMENTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
MIXED OXIDE FUELS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PROCESSING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
RECOVERY
SCRAP
SCRAP METALS
SOLID FUELS
SOLID WASTES
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES