Method for processing scrap fissile material into a form suitable for shipping

Abstract

Abstract Scrap fissile materials and pyrophoric solids are added to a slurry of water and a nonburnable cementing material, masonry cement being preferred, and the resulting agglomeration is poured into a metal can. After the cementing material has been allowed to set to form a solid block within the can, the metal can is sealed with a metal lid. The scraps are thereby encapsulated in the solid cement block preventing exposure to the atmosphere and are held in a fixed lattice in the solid block thereby eliminating any fire hazard and eliminating any potential criticality. The scrap material, held in the billet so produced, is in a form suitable for safely shipping to a fuel scrap recovery plant which is located at a substantial distance from the place at which the scrap is produced. Upon arrival at the scrap recovery plant, the metal can is peeled from the solid block. The solid block is inserted whole or broken into smaller chunks and the chunks inserted into a high temperature oven and roasted to decompose the cementing material and convert the fissile material to the oxides. The fissile material is then leached from the oxides in the roasted product with acid which also decomposes any remaining cementing material. The fissile material is subsequently purified by extraction.

Inventors

• 👤 E Weakley

Bibliographic Details