Production Test 231-10 Supplement B process evaluation-production of concentrated plutonium nitrate solution in Building 231: Transfer to and processing in Building 234-5. Final report

摘要

All of the 231 Building final product was prepared for off-site shipment prior to the startup of the 234-5 Building. The evaporator (S-1) effluent, a solution approximately 10 molar in nitric acid with plutonium concentration of 275 grams/liter, was dried within the shipping container (sample can) to a solid cake. The purpose of this drying operation was to minimize personnel contamination and/or loss of product during shipment. The dried cake was redissolved in water before further purification steps could be performed. The procedures for testing the purification of AT solution as recommended by the development group (6) were presented in Production Test 231-10 Supplement B. Production Test 231-10 Supplement B was initiated to establish the procedures for the precipitation of Plutonium (III) Oxalate in Plant equipment from AT solutions. The current report is written to provide a history of work done and data collected during the test and conclusions and recommendations obtained from studies of the data.