Acid digestion of plutonium-containing wastes. results of work leading to process development and the separation of plutonium from residues (nassverbrennung plutoniumhaltiger abfalle. ergebnisse von arbeiten zur verfahrensentwicklung und abtrennung von plutonium aus dem ruckstand)
An inert experimental facility was developed for a waste throughput of 1.5 kg/h. Its main components are: the reactor (tray or ring reactor), the off-gas cleaning and the acid recycling systems, and the filter. Compared with the tray reactor, the ring reactor is smaller in size at comparable performance; there is no sedimentation of residues during operation; resuspension of any sediments formed after a temporary shut-down presents no problems. The amount of sulphuric acid aerosol formed during the process is independent of the specific surface temperature, provided heating is kept below 70 kW/m2. The efficiency of separation of the off-gas purification system is highest if a total acid content of 7 mol/l is not exceeded. The amount of air needed for oxidation should be approximately 2 m3/h. The acids formed (H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, HNO/sub 3/ and HCl), are distilled and the total sulphuric acid used, as well as more than 70% of the nitric acid, are recycled. Under the conditions of acid digestion and with a reaction period of 20 hours characterized by good mixing throughout, 94-99 wt% of plutonium oxides are converted to sulphate.
- Research Organization:
- Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg
- OSTI ID:
- 6743750
- Report Number(s):
- EUR-7052-DE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PLUTONIUM
SEPARATION PROCESSES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
DIGESTION
CHEMICAL REACTORS
FILTERS
NITRIC ACID
OFF-GAS SYSTEMS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RESIDUES
SULFURIC ACID
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing