/sup 238/Pu processing at the Savannah River Plant
/sup 238/Pu is produced by irradiating /sup 237/Np. The /sup 237/Np is produced as a byproduct when natural or enriched uranium is irradiated with neutrons. The /sup 237/Np is separated by solvent extraction and ion exchange. It is converted to NpO/sub 2/ and fabricated into targets for irradiation. The irradiated targets are cooled and dissolved in strong nitric acid. The /sup 238/Pu and /sup 237/Np are separated from fission products and other cationic impurities and from each other by three cycles of anion exchange. The /sup 237/Np is recycled to produce more targets for irradiation. The pure /sup 238/Pu solution is precipitated as Pu oxalate and calcined to PuO/sub 2/. After several powder-conditioning steps, the PuO/sub 2/ is hot pressed into fuel forms. Each form is encased in iridium for loading into a specially designed power unit for space application. 8 references, 9 figures, 1 table.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 6632411
- Report Number(s):
- DP-MS-83-63; CONF-831047-63; ON: DE84002426
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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