Low temperature dissolution flowsheet for Pu metal

Abstract

The Savannah River National Laboratory was requested to develop a Pu metal dissolution flowsheet at two reduced temperature ranges for implementation in the Savannah River Site H-Canyon facility. The dissolution and H 2 generation rates during Pu metal dissolution were investigated using a dissolving solution at ambient temperature (20-30 °C) and for an intermediate temperature of 50-60 °C. The Pu metal dissolution rate measured at 57 °C was approximately 20 times slower than at boiling (112 -116 °C). The dissolution rate at ambient temperature (24 °C) was approximately 80 times slower than the dissolution rate at boiling Hydrogen concentrations were less than detectable (<0.1 vol %). Low Temperature Dissolution Flowsheet for Pu Metal SRNL-STI-2016-00524 page 19 of 26 * Estimated dissolution rate(1) **Dissolving solution also contained 0.4 g/L Ni and 0.6 g/L Cr