Use of sulfuric-nitric acid for the recovery of plutonium from HEPA filters. (620. 2, WH001/LWE)

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6567102· OSTI ID:6567102

Clark, D. E.

Contaminated high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter media, containing PuO/sub 2/ powder which had been calcined at 700/sup 0/C, were treated with concentrated H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/-HNO/sub 3/ at 190 to 200/sup 0/C for periods ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 hours. When followed by a dilute HNO/sub 3/ rinse, this treatment was shown to be very effective as a plutonium recovery operation (approximately greater than 97% of the plutonium was solubilized). A proposed treatment scheme is given which could provide both a plutonium recovery option for HEPA filters and a reduction in overall waste volume.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-14-2170
• OSTI ID: 6567102
• Report Number(s): HEDL-TME-78-67
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
AIR FILTERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEANING
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FILTERS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METALS
NITRIC ACID
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
RECOVERY
SULFURIC ACID
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS