CONTAMINATED PROCESS EQUIPMENT REMOVAL FOR THE D&D OF THE 232-Z CONTAMINATED WASTE RECOVERY PROCESS FACILITY AT THE PLUTONIUM FINISHING PLANT (PFP)

Conference · Thu Jan 25 04:00:00 EST 2007

OSTI ID:899765

HOPKINS, A M; MINETTE, M J; KLOS, D B

This paper describes the unique challenges encountered and subsequent resolutions to accomplish the deactivation and decontamination of a plutonium ash contaminated building. The 232-Z Contaminated Waste Recovery Process Facility at the Plutonium Finishing Plant was used to recover plutonium from process wastes such as rags, gloves, containers and other items by incinerating the items and dissolving the resulting ash. The incineration process resulted in a light-weight plutonium ash residue that was highly mobile in air. This light-weight ash coated the incinerator's process equipment, which included gloveboxes, blowers, filters, furnaces, ducts, and filter boxes. Significant airborne contamination (over 1 million derived air concentration hours [DAC]) was found in the scrubber cell of the facility. Over 1300 grams of plutonium held up in the process equipment and attached to the walls had to be removed, packaged and disposed. This ash had to be removed before demolition of the building could take place.

• Research Organization: Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-96RL13200
• OSTI ID: 899765
• Report Number(s): HNF-32534-FP Rev 0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
DEMOLITION
EQUIPMENT
HANFORD RESERVATION
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
REMOVAL
RESIDUES
SURPLUS NUCLEAR FACILITIES