46 research outputs found
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Sampling and characterization of aerosols formed in the atmospheric hydrolysis of UF/sub 6/
When gaseous UF/sub 6/ is released into the atmosphere, it rapidly reacts with ambient moisture to form an aerosol of uranyl fluoride and HF. As part of our Safety Analysis program, we have performed several experimental releases of UF/sub 6/ (from natural uranium) in contained volumes in order to investigate techniques for sampling and characterizing the aerosol materials. The aggregrate particle morphology and size distribution have been found to be dependent upon several conditions, including the relative humidity at the time of the release and the elapse time after the release. Aerosol composition and settling rate have been investigated using isokinetic samplers for the separate collection of UO/sub 2/F/sub 2/ and HF, and via laser spectroscopic remote sensing (Mie scatter and infrared spectroscopy). 8 references
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Development of thin foils for use in generating neutral particle beams
The Isotope Research Materials Laboratory (IRML) was requested to prepare large-area, ultrathin aluminum and carbon foils for use in beam neutralization experiments. There were two major parts to this request. The first was to immediately provide a number of 5-cm-dia foils 5 to 20 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2/ thick for use in experiments at the Fusion Materials Irradiation Test (FMIT) facility and at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The second, longer-term request was to develop methods to prepare 25-cm x 25-cm, 10-..mu..g/cm/sup 2/ aluminum neutralizer foils. Both parts of the request have been successfully met
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Nonthermal plasma alternative to the incineration of hazardous organic wastes. [Mixtures containing oil and trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethane]
We are developing silent discharge plasma (SDP) oxidation technology as an alternative to incineration and as a post-incinerator treatment process for hazardous organic wastes. As an alternative to incineration, SDP apparatus has been coupled to a high-temperature packed-bed reactor, the plasma apparatus serving as a second stage for treating gaseous effluent from the packed bed. As a post- incinerator treatment process, SDP apparatus has been evaluated using a prepared gaseous feed containing hazardous organic compounds which are expected to be found in the machining fluids (trichloroethylene (TCE), carbon tetrachloride (CCl{sub 4}), and trichloroethane (TCA)). In typical tests with the packed-bed reactor alone, we have treated mixtures containing oil and several per cent TCE, TCA, or CCl{sub 4} removing the chlorocarbons to levels of ppm-order for TCA and to order {approximately}100 ppb for TCE and CCl{sub 4}, as measured in the gaseous effluent. In representative stand-alone tests with the SDP reactor, we have removed TCE in the gaseous influent from 1,000 ppm concentrations to around 100 ppb in the gaseous effluent (CCl{sub 4} appears to be more treatment-resistant). The measured figures of merit for the SDP reactor (electrical energy per mass of removed chemical) are 10's of kW-hr/kg for >>99% removal of TCE and 100's of kW-hr/kg for 90% removal of CCl{sub 4}, both being non-optimized cases in terms of waste concentration, carrier gas composition, water content, flow rate, and electrical power. Using combined packed- bed/SDP reactors on chlorocarbon/oil mixtures, several per cent chlorocarbon concentrations have been removed to well below the 100-ppb level overall. We envision eventual reductions to levels of {approximately}10 ppb or less