Caustic Precipitation of Plutonium and Uranium with Gadolinium as a Neutron Poison

Visser, Ann E.; Bronikowski, Michael G.; Rudisill, Tracy S.

doi:10.13182/NT06-A3776

Caustic Precipitation of Plutonium and Uranium with Gadolinium as a Neutron Poison

Journal Article · Mon Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Nuclear Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3776· OSTI ID:840798

Visser, Ann E. ^[1]; Bronikowski, Michael G. ^[1]; Rudisill, Tracy S. ^[1]

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Here, the caustic precipitation of plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) from Pu and U containing waste solutions has been investigated to determine whether gadolinium (Gd) could be used as a neutron poison for precipitation with greater than a fissile mass containing both Pu and enriched U. Precipitation experiments were performed using both actual samples and simulant solutions with a range of 2.6-5.16 g/L U and 0-4.3 to 1 U to Pu. Analyses were performed on solutions at intermediate pH to determine the partitioning of elements for accident scenarios. When both Pu and U were present in the solution, precipitation began at pH 4.5 and by pH 7, 99% of Pu and U had precipitated. When complete neutralization was achieved at pH greater than 14 with 1.2 M excess OH^-, greater than 99% of Pu, U, and Gd had precipitated. At pH greater than 14, the particles sizes were larger and the distribution was a single mode. The ratio of hydrogen to fissile atoms in the precipitate was determined after both settling and centrifuging and indicates that sufficient water was associated with the precipitates to provide the needed neutron moderation for Gd to prevent a criticality in solutions containing up to 4.3 to 1 U to Pu and up to 5.16 g/L U.

Research Organization:: Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC09-96SR18500

OSTI ID:: 840798

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 881353

Report Number(s):: WSRC-MS--2005-00086

Journal Information:: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 156; ISSN 0029-5450

Publisher:: Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (13)

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Properties of Plutonium(IV) Polymer of Environmental Importance Rai, Dhanpat; Swanson, J. L. Nuclear Technology, Vol. 54, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.13182/nt81-a32758	journal	July 1981
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UO2-Gd2O3 solid solution formation from wet and dry processes Riella, H. G.; Durazzo, M.; Hirata, M. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 178, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(91)90387-M	journal	February 1991
Homogeneity characterisation of sintered (U,Gd)O2 pellets by X-ray diffraction Leyva, A. G.; Vega, D.; Trimarco, V. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 303, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(02)00819-X	journal	May 2002
Investigation of Plutonium and Uranium Precipitation Behavior with Gadolinium as a Neutron Poison Visser, Ann E.; Rudisill, Tracy S.; Bronikowski, Michael G. Separation Science and Technology, Vol. 40, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1081/SS-200042476	journal	February 2005
Precipitation of Uranium and Plutonium from Alkaline Salt Solutions Hobbs, David T. Nuclear Technology, Vol. 128, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.13182/NT128-103	journal	October 1999
Properties of Plutonium(IV) Polymer of Environmental Importance Rai, Dhanpat; Swanson, J. L. Nuclear Technology, Vol. 54, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.13182/NT81-A32758	journal	July 1981

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08 HYDROGEN
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ACCIDENTS
ATOMS
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PRECIPITATION
PROCESS SOLUTIONS
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WATER

Caustic Precipitation of Plutonium and Uranium with Gadolinium as a Neutron Poison

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References (13)

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