Chemical and Radiochemical Composition of Thermally Stabilized Plutonium Oxide from the Plutonium Finishing Plant Considered as Alternate Feedstock for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility

摘要: Eighteen plutonium oxide samples originating from the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) on Hanford Site were analyzed to provide additional data suitability of PFP thermally stabilized oxides and Rocky Flats as alternate feedstock Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). Radiochemical chemical analyses performed fusions, acid leaches, water leaches these 18 samples. The results destructive compared with nondestructive (NDA) at acceptance criteria for feedstock. materials considered originated several different sources including oxide, scrap Remote Mechanical C-Line (RMC) Reclamation (PRF), other conversion processes Hanford. These received metals, oxides, solutions. All material was converted PuO2 by heating powder 950 C in an oxidizing environment. two solutions precipitation Mg(OH)2. grouped into four categories based their origin. divided categories,more » low- high-chloride oxides. PRF/RMC which included both process lines produced solution came that being tested Pacific Northwest National Laboratory because all had already been processed placed 3013 containers. are nitrate product double-pass filtrate after they stabilized. 16 thermal stabilization batches before canning PFP. Samples varied appearance depending original source material. items mostly dark olive green clumps crushed easily a mortar pestle. showed more variability. rust colored. One sample contained white particles difficult crush, another grey mixture fines large, hard fragments. feel fragments indicated might be alloy. color indicative impurities sample. brown iron light gray color. analyses, ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), alpha gamma energy analysis (AEA GEA), kinetic phosphorescence (KPA), indicate weapons-grade consistent isotopics. A small amount uranium (<0.14 wt%) is also present isotopic composition widely but among each category primary water-soluble anions Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43-. only major anion observed significant quantities observed. Prompt measurements representative Cl- concentration bulk did not exceed mixed (MOX) specification limits. Cations exceeded MOX limits Cr, Fe, Ni, Al, Cu, Si. least 75% limit one element.« less