Open AccessINVENTION REPORT--DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLUTION TO OXIDIZE AND DISSOLVE URANIUM METAL AND ITS OXIDES
Author(s) -
R.D. Weed
Publication year - 1962
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4176090
Subject(s) - oxalic acid , peracetic acid , human decontamination , uranium , hydrogen peroxide , dissolution , chemistry , corrosion , metal , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , oxalate , brass , metallurgy , peroxide , materials science , waste management , copper , organic chemistry , engineering
Decontamination of a high-temperature pressurizedwater reactor core- coolant recirculation system following a fuel element cladding failure requires the dissolution of uranium oxides + uranium metal. An oxalic--peroxide-peracetic solution was developed which was found to be superior to other solutions for this task. The solution composition is: oxalic acid, 2.3 g/l: sodium oxalate, 32.0 g/ l; hydrogen peroxide, 15.0 g/l; 8-quinolinol, 1.0 g/l; and 40% peracetic acid, 12.5 g/l. 8-Quinolinol suppresses the decomposition of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ in steel vessels. Corrosion data indicate that, of all the structural materials tested, only brass and brass alloys are corronded to any extent by this solution. This solution was used in the decontamination of the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor. (D.L.C.