Processing transuranium isotopes: Waste characterization and implications for process improvements

Conference · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:6775791

Collins, E D; Bigelow, J E; King, L J ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)

Liquid, gaseous, and solid wastes generated by processing transuranium elements were characterized to determine improvements needed to minimize waste volumes and simplify treatment and disposal. Most of the western world's supply of {sup 249}Bk, {sup 252}Cf, {sup 253}Es, and {sup 257}Fm is produced in the U.S. Department of Energy's Transuranium Element Processing Program at Oak Ridge National laboratory (ORNL). This program utilizes the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC). Aluminum-clad targets containing {approximately}10 g of {sup 242}Pu or americium and curium, as an oxide-aluminum cermet, are irradiated in HFIR and processed in the REDC to recover transuranium elements and fabricate new targets. Typically, a group of {approximately}13 targets is processed in a campaign that is begun {approximately}3 weeks after discharge from HFIR. The steps used to process irradiated targets are described. Characteristics of liquid wastes from a typical campaign are summarized. Characterization of wastes was necessary to identify and prioritize process improvements that offer significant potential to minimize volumes and simplify treatment and disposal.

• OSTI ID: 6775791
• Report Number(s): CONF-891103--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 60
• 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
AIR FILTERS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FILTERS
FISSION PRODUCTS
HFIR REACTOR
IRRADIATION
IRRADIATION REACTORS
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION REACTORS
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OFF-GAS SYSTEMS
ORNL
PLUTONIUM 242 TARGET
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TARGETS
TEST REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLUME
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS