Fabrication of bismuth-telluride thermoelectric wires by friction extrusion
Not Available
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “solid phase processing”
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Macroscale property assessment and indentation characteristics of thick section friction stir welded AA 5083
The spatial gradients in microstructure have been proven to be effective in optimizing the performance of components, and several techniques have been developed to achieve this microstructure. Nevertheless, the local microstructural modification methods inevitably result in the formation of gradient microstructure leading to a variation in the property. Herein this work systematically investigates the effect of gradient microstructure formed during thick section friction stir weld Al5083 alloy on its mechanical properties. A novel macro-indentation technique, profilometer-based indentation plastometry (PIP), is utilized to capture the variation in the mechanical properties in the feedstock (rolled plate) and weld region. The feedstock exhibited a gradient microstructure owing to different stress states during rolling. Additionally, the stirring of the tool resulted in a complex material flow pattern producing a microstructure gradient in the weld region. The aspect ratio of the grains was identified as the primary factor causing variation in indentation response in the feedstock. In contrast, variation in the grain size in the weld region resulted in property variation. Overall, the stir zone has a lower yield strength (158±4MPa) than the base material (173±3MPa). In addition, microstructure heterogeneity in the stir zone resulted in lower elongation than the base material.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Neutron radiation induced transmutation of boron to lithium in aluminum-boron nitride composite
Not Available
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Chloride-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking of Friction Stir-Welded 304L Stainless Steel: Effect of Microstructure and Temperature
Dry storage canisters of used nuclear fuels are fabricated using SUS 304L stainless steel. Chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) is one of the major failure modes of dry storage canisters. The cracked canisters can be repaired by friction stir welding (FSW), a low-heat input ‘solid-phase’ welding process. It is important to evaluate the ClSCC resistance of the friction stir welded material. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) studies were carried out on mill-annealed base materials and friction stir welded 304L stainless U-bend specimens in 3.5% NaCl + 5 N H2SO4 solution at room temperature and boiling MgCl2 solution at 155 °C. The engineering stress on the outer fiber of the FSW U-bend specimen was ~60% higher than that of the base metal (BM). In spite of the higher stress level of the FSW, both materials (FSW and BM) showed almost similar SCC failure times in the two different test solutions. The SCC occurred in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) of the FSW specimens in the 3.5% NaCl + 5 N H2SO4 solution at room temperature, while the stirred zone (SZ) was relatively crack-free. The failure occurred at the stirred zone when tested in the boiling MgCl2 solution. Hydrogen reduction was the cathodic reaction in the boiling MgCl2 solution, which promoted hydrogen-assisted cracking of the heavily deformed stirred zone. The emergence of the slip step followed by passive film rupture and dissolution of the slip step could be the SCC events in the 3.5% NaCl + 5 N H2SO4 solution at room temperature. However, the slip step height was not sufficient to cause passivity breakdown in the fine-grained SZ. Therefore, the SCC occurred in the partially recrystallized softer TMAZ. Overall, the friction-stirred 304L showed higher tolerance to ClSCC than the 304L base metal.
304L austenitic stainless steel↗
KVOPO 4 cathode for sodium ion batteries
An electrode comprising: NaVOPO 4 having orthorhombic crystalline symmetry and space group Pna2 1 , as an active intercalation host material, wherein the electrode is capable of electrochemical insertion and release of greater than one sodium ion per vanadium, wherein the NaVOPO 4 is formed by a solid phase synthesis process from a heated powdered mixture of ammonium metavanadate, ammonium phosphate monobasic, and potassium carbonate, to yield NaVOPO 4 having corner-sharing VO 6 octahedra and PO 4 tetrahedra, defining two types of tunnels comprising a first type of tunnel formed of rings of two PO 4 tetrahedra and a second type of tunnel formed of rings of three PO 4 tetrahedra and three VO 6 octahedra, followed by substitution of the potassium ions with sodium ions.
Whittingham, M. Stanley↗
Understanding the role of carbon atoms on microstructure and phase transformation of high Nb containing TiAl alloys
The microstructure and solidification behavior of high Nb containing TiAl alloys with the composition of Ti-46Al-8Nb-xC (x = 0.1, 0.7, 1.4, 2.5 at.%) prepared by arc-melting method have been investigated in this work. The results give evidence that the addition of carbon changes the solidification behavior from solidification via the β phase to the peritectic solidification. And carbon in solid solution enriches in the α{sub 2} phase and increases the microhardness. As the carbon content increases to 1.4 at.%, plate-shape morphology carbides Ti{sub 2}AlC (H phase) precipitate from the TiAl matrix which leads to the refinement microstructure. By aging at 1173 K for 24 h after quenching treatment, fine needle-like and granular shape Ti{sub 3}AlC (P phase) carbides are observed in the matrix of Ti-46Al-8Nb-2.5C alloy, which distribute along the lamellar structure or around the plate-shape Ti{sub 2}AlC. Transmission electron microscope observation shows that the Ti{sub 3}AlC carbides precipitate at dislocations. The phase transformation in-situ observations indicate that the Ti{sub 2}AlC carbides partly precipitate during the solid state phase transformation process. - Highlights: •Carbon changes the solidification behavior from β phase to peritectic solidification. •Dislocations in solution treated γ phase act as nucleation sites of Ti{sub 3}AlC precipitations. •Ti{sub 3}AlC precipitates as fine needle-like or granular shape in the solution treated matrix. •Ti{sub 2}AlC carbides precipitate during the solid state phase transformation process.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Solid Phase Gradient Alloying Method via ShAPE
Alloying has been used to confer desirable properties to various metallic systems since the bronze age. For example, Ni, Mn, and Cr are alloyed into an Fe matrix to make steel, which has improved strength and corrosion resistance (as displayed in Fig. 1). In addition to the type of alloying elements, the amount of alloying elements added into a matrix is also very critical for a material’s mechanical property, physical property, machinability, and cost. Conventionally, new alloys are discovered by combining alloy precursors and elemental constituents into a mixture and melting them together. The solidified product or ingot represents a usually non-homogeneous combination of the chemistry with a microstructure dictated by the physics of solidification. It is time and energy intensive to optimize the alloying amounts via the casting process and hence, economically not conducive to rapid alloy discovery. In addition, the cast microstructure seen in the as-cast ingot is often not the ideal, nor even desired structure for optimized performance. Cast materials often need further processing such as homogenization, annealing, and deformation work put in through rolling, forging, extruding, etc. to have favorable microstructures and properties. A faster method to discover new alloy combinations and evaluate them in their worked or processed form is needed. Recently, Laser Engineered Net Shaping was applied to fabricate gradient compositional material for alloy designing. However, the mechanical properties of this gradient alloy were poor due to the existence of impurities, oxidation and cracks that are inherent in the melt-solidification process. Because of these limitations, we propose to use a solid-phase process (ShAPE) to create bulk materials (extrudates) that vary in composition from one end of the extruded solid to the other. Various manufacturing methods for alloy design including conventional casting method, laser based combinatorial method and current solid phase gradient alloying method are displayed and compared in Fig. 2. ShAPE machine and a schematic of ShAPE process are displayed in Fig. 3. Starting material is processed by a rotating and plunging die to form an extrudate. We are proposing through this methodology to invent a new, bulk-scale combinatorial technique. With this novel technique, alloying element can be dissolved into the matrix with a continued gradient without bulk melting. Formation of inter-metallics and defects originating from melt processing can be avoided. In addition, the ShAPE process creates the mixed alloy chemistry, and meanwhile subjects the material to severe plastic strain, which induces the favorable “worked” microstructure. Products from the ShAPE process can be tested in hardness directly providing a path to rapid evaluation of mechanical properties. The ability to create graded structures using friction stir processing (FSP) has been demonstrated, however using the ShAPE process we believe will lead to much faster and higher fidelity results. When combined with high throughput screening methods of physical, mechanical and microstructural property characterization, efficiency and accuracy of alloy design can be significantly improved.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
In-situ electron microscopy mapping of an order-disorder transition in a superionic conductor
Solid-solid phase transitions are processes ripe for the discovery of correlated atomic motion in crystals. Here, we monitor an order-disorder transition in real-time in nanoparticles of the super-ionic solid, Cu 2-x Se. The use of in-situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy allows the spatiotemporal evolution of the phase transition within a single nanoparticle to be monitored at the atomic level. The high spatial resolution reveals that cation disorder is nucleated at low co-ordination, high energy sites of the nanoparticle where cationic vacancy layers intersect with surface facets. Time-dependent evolution of the reciprocal lattice of individual nanoparticles shows that the initiation of cation disorder is accompanied by a ~3% compression of the anionic lattice, establishing a correlation between these two structural features of the lattice. The spatiotemporal insights gained here advance understanding of order-disorder transitions, ionic structure and transport, and the role of nanoparticle surfaces in phase transitions.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Electric-Field-Oriented Growth of Long Hair-Like Silica Microfibrils and Derived Functional Monolithic Solids
We present a “bottom-up” fabrication approach to first grow a new class of inorganic (silica) long hair-like microfibers or microwires and then to form monolithic solid pellet that contains parallel arrays of bundled microfibers with a controlled orientation. During the sol-gel solution processing, reactive precursor species are utilized as molecular “building blocks” for the field-directed assembly growth of microfibers driven by an electric field of pulsed direct current (dc) with controlled frequency. In principle, this reactive electrofibrilation process that combines an external field with a solid-phase nucleation and growth process has no limitation on reactions (such as the one here that involves sol-gel reaction chemistry) and on materials compositions (such as the example silica oxide), thus will enable bulk production of long microfibers of wide variety of inorganic materials (other oxides or metals). Furthermore, we have fabricated uniquely architectured monolithic solid materials containing aligned microfibers by “wet press” of the in-situ grown microfiber structure in the electric field. The consolidated monolithic slabs (1 cm x 1 cm x 3 mm) have shown anisotropic properties and desirable retention of DNA molecule fragments, thus, could serve as a platform stationary-phase materials for future development of capillary electrochromatography for biomolecule separations.
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
The analysis of magnesium oxide hydration in three-phase reaction system
In order to investigate the magnesium oxide hydration process in gas–liquid–solid (three-phase) reaction system, magnesium hydroxide was prepared by magnesium oxide hydration in liquid–solid (two-phase) and three-phase reaction systems. A semi-empirical model and the classical shrinking core model were used to fit the experimental data. The fitting result shows that both models describe well the hydration process of three-phase system, while only the semi-empirical model right for the hydration process of two-phase system. The characterization of the hydration product using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed. The XRD and SEM show hydration process in the two-phase system follows common dissolution/precipitation mechanism. While in the three-phase system, the hydration process undergo MgO dissolution, Mg(OH){sub 2} precipitation, Mg(OH){sub 2} peeling off from MgO particle and leaving behind fresh MgO surface. - Graphical abstract: There was existence of a peeling-off process in the gas–liquid–solid (three-phase) MgO hydration system. - Highlights: • Magnesium oxide hydration in gas–liquid–solid system was investigated. • The experimental data in three-phase system could be fitted well by two models. • The morphology analysis suggested that there was existence of a peel-off process.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Modeling of the Process of Electrostatic Sorption on Suspended Particles of Solid-Phase Powders in Air Space
In the present work, the authors have made a literature analysis of the influence of various factors on the adsorbability of harmful substances in air space. A physicomathematical substantiation of the improvement of the sorption capacity due to the presence of a charge on particles of nanostructured sorption compositions has been proposed. The kinetics of sorption as a function of the interaction time and the dispersity of particles of the charged sorbent and neutral particles of the solute has been determined. Experimental and theoretical assessment of the process of coagulation of liquid-phase particles of glycerin with electrostatically charged solid-phase powders of various kinds in a closed volume have been made. The proposed physicomathematical model of electrostatic sorption was tested for adequacy to experimental data on variation in the average volume-surface diameter of electrostatically charged aerosol formations with time.
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
Efficient Low-Temperature Direct Lithium Extraction from Chloride Brines Enabled by High-Capacity Sorbent
The demand for lithium, a key component in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems, has surged in recent years. Meeting this demand requires efficient extraction methods that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable. This study investigates the utilization of the high-capacity sorbent amorphous aluminum hydroxide for enabling efficient direct lithium extraction at low temperatures. Traditional extraction methods often involve acid-leaching and energy-intensive processes that are not only expensive but also environmentally taxing. In contrast, our approach leverages the exceptional sorption properties of amorphous aluminum hydroxide to facilitate lithium extraction directly from brine, achieving extraction efficiencies of 94.4% in case 1 and 96.2% in case 2 at low temperatures. Kinetic modeling using the Avrami–Erofe’ev framework reveals a nucleation-growth mechanism ( n = 0.71, k = 0.131 h –1 ), providing quantitative insights into the solid-state phase transformation process. This method significantly reduces energy consumption and minimizes the environmental footprint. Through systematic experimentation and optimization, we demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of our approach, highlighting its potential to revolutionize lithium extraction processes. Our findings highlight the potential of high-capacity sorbents, particularly amorphous aluminum hydroxide toward sustainable lithium production, contributing to the advancement of clean-energy technologies.
anions↗
Cations controlled growth of β-MnO 2 crystals with tunable facets for electrochemical energy storage
Engineering crystal facets to enhance their functionalities often require complex processing routes to suppress the growth of surfaces with the lowest thermodynamic energies. Herein, we report a unique method to control the morphologies of β-MnO 2 crystals with different occupancy of {100}/{111} facets through the effect of K + cations. Combining aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), ultramicrotomy, and dynamic functional theory (DFT) simulation, we clarified that the β-MnO 2 crystals were formed through a direct solid-state phase transition process. Increasing the concentration of K + cations in the precursor gradually changed the morphology of β-MnO 2 from bipyramid prism ({100}+{111} facets) to an octahedron structure ({111} facets). The K + cations controlled the morphology of β-MnO 2 by affecting the formation of α-K 0.5 Mn 4 O 8 intermediate phase and the subsequent phase transition. Utilizing the β-MnO 2 crystals as the cathode for Li-ion batteries showed that highly exposed {111} facets offered β-MnO 2 crystal better rate performance, with ~70% capacity retention when the charge-discharge rate increased from 20 mA/g to 200 mA/g. Furthermore, our work revealed a new mechanism to tune the morphology of this earth-abundant metal oxide crystal, which could be used to adjust its electrochemical performance for different applications, such as supercapacitors and catalysts for metal-air batteries and fuel cells.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
Integrating Tide‐Driven Wetland Soil Redox and Biogeochemical Interactions Into a Land Surface Model
Abstract Redox processes, aqueous and solid‐phase chemistry, and pH dynamics are key drivers of subsurface biogeochemical cycling and methanogenesis in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems but are typically not included in terrestrial carbon cycle models. These omissions may introduce errors when simulating systems where redox interactions and pH fluctuations are important, such as wetlands where saturation of soils can produce anoxic conditions and coastal systems where sulfate inputs from seawater can influence biogeochemistry. Integrating cycling of redox‐sensitive elements could therefore allow models to better represent key elements of carbon cycling and greenhouse gas production. We describe a model framework that couples the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model (ELM) with PFLOTRAN biogeochemistry, allowing geochemical processes and redox interactions to be integrated with land surface model simulations. We implemented a reaction network including aerobic decomposition, fermentation, sulfate reduction, sulfide oxidation, methanogenesis, and methanotrophy as well as pH dynamics along with iron oxide and iron sulfide mineral precipitation and dissolution. We simulated biogeochemical cycling in tidal wetlands subject to either saltwater or freshwater inputs driven by tidal hydrological dynamics. In simulations with saltwater tidal inputs, sulfate reduction led to accumulation of sulfide, higher dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations, lower dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and lower methane emissions than simulations with freshwater tidal inputs. Model simulations compared well with measured porewater concentrations and surface gas emissions from coastal wetlands in the Northeastern United States. These results demonstrate how simulating geochemical reaction networks can improve land surface model simulations of subsurface biogeochemistry and carbon cycling.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Technical Evaluation of Accelerated Basin De-Inventory Material Addition to Sludge Batch 11 (Rev. 1)
The Accelerated Basin De-inventory (ABD) program involves discarding spent nuclear fuel that is currently stored in L-Basin to the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) for vitrification. The first ABD discards will occur during the preparation of Sludge Batch (SB) 11. Savannah River Mission Completion has requested that the Savannah River National Laboratory assess the technical gaps related to the increased gadolinium poisoning requirement and the impacts of performing the Low Temperature Aluminum Dissolution (LTAD) process in Tank 51 with H-Canyon discards present. The following summarizes the evaluation of the impacts of increasing the quantity of gadolinium (and related topics) from what was previously evaluated in the SRNL studies of gadolinium-poisoned ABD material solubility, the overall ABD flowsheet review, and increasing the fissile mass loading in glass: 1) Based on literature surveys, there is no indication that organic interactions with gadolinium will be significant at the high pH (typically >13) conditions of the Concentration, Storage, and Transfer Facilities. Any interactions of gadolinium with organics in DWPF are not expected to adversely impact DWPF or downstream facilities. Thus, there is little-to-no residual risk from organic interactions with gadolinium [Gap closed]; 2) Adding depleted uranium to ABD material, targeting 235 U enrichment of 4.90% within each transfer window, will mitigate potential impacts from an increase in soluble 235 U enrichment during sludge washing and LTAD. The plan to take advantage of previous transfers and allow 235 U enrichment of >5% during the final transfer window carries a risk that Tank 51 supernate will have a 235 U enrichment of >5%, which should be evaluated for acceptance; 3) Increasing the gadolinium mass ratio to 3.0:1 Gd: 235 U(eq SLU ) should lead to the same or higher partitioning of gadolinium into the solid phase within the DWPF Chemical Process Cell, resulting in both liquid and solid phases with expected partitioning of Gd consistent with the prior solubility study [Gap closed for SB11]; 4) There are no expected impacts on DWPF melt temperature and melter operations due to the minimal ~0.2 weight percent (wt%) increase in Gd concentration relative to previous sludge batches [Gap closed for SB11]; 5) As observed previously, Gd is expected to enter the off-gas system via physical entrainment, but at a slightly higher concentration than what was observed for SB9 melter off-gas pluggage deposits (0.07 wt%) [Gap closed for SB11] ; 6) There are no expected impacts on DWPF recycle or the Recycle Collection Tank glycolate destruction process. [Gap closed for SB11]; 7) Gd is projected to be a trace component in the SB11 glass (<0.5 wt%) and can be ignored for process control. Trace components do not significantly impact glass durability, thus the conclusions of the previous Product Consistency Test evaluation at a fissile mass loading of 2,500 g fissile/m3 glass still applies to SB11. The ~0.1 wt% increase in Gd2O3 concentration relative to the previous study will not impact the predictability of SB11 glass with the DWPF Product Composition Control System (PCCS) models for durability or the acceptability of glass according to the Waste Acceptance Product Specifications (WAPS) criterion for product consistency [Gap closed for SB11]; 8) No additional Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure testing is necessary for SB11 and the hazardous waste specification of the SB11 DWPF waste form is unchanged after the addition of the ABD stream [Gap closed for SB11]. The following summarizes the evaluation of the impacts of adding two-thirds of the ABD material to Tank 51 prior to LTAD: 1) The addition of two-thirds of the ABD increases overall aluminum mass from 1.39×10 4 kg to 1.64×10 4 kg (15.5% ABD Al). The form of the insoluble portion of the Al resulting from ABD addition should be the more readily dissolved Al(OH) 3 and amorphous forms. The portion of the ABD aluminum that is processed by LTAD is expected to be completely soluble, thus requiring that less of the boehmite in the sludge be dissolved to reach the same Al target in the SB. [Gap closed for SB11]; The expected LTAD impact on other components, as related primarily to the components in ABD, are discussed. Gd is expected to remain insoluble during LTAD and not impact the solubility of other components. [Gap closed for SB11]; The addition of two-thirds of the ABD increases overall projected SB11 uranium mass from 4,740 kg to 13,100 kg (63% ABD U) and the projected plutonium mass from 86.0 kg to 89.5 kg (3.9% ABD Pu). The addition of all of the ABD increases overall projected SB11 uranium mass from 4,740 kg to 16,100 kg (70% ABD U) and the projected plutonium mass from 86.0 kg to 90.4 kg (5.3% ABD Pu). The 235 U enrichment will be ≤5%. The fissile uranium will be adequately poisoned by Gd and the fissile Pu will be adequately poisoned by Fe from the sludge. [Gap closed for SB11]; There is a low risk that ABD addition will impact the rheology or pumpability of the slurry. There is a low but higher risk of ABD addition prior to LTAD impacting the settling rate; Based on the evaluation of adding two-thirds of the ABD material and all of the ABD material prior to the LTAD process, there is no volume or mass limit that would need to be imposed on ABD additions prior to LTAD. [Gap closed for SB11]. Revision 1 of this report addresses a variation on the ABD additions and LTAD strategy where sodium hydroxide additions for LTAD may be performed intermittently or concurrently with an ABD addition window. The proposed change does not alter the conclusions of this evaluation.
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
Dynamics of laser induced metal nanoparticle and pattern formation
Discontinuous metal films are converted into either almost round, isolated, and randomly distributed nanoparticles (NPs) or fringed patterns of alternate non transformed film and NPs by exposure to single pulses (20 ns pulse duration and 193 nm wavelength) of homogeneous or modulated laser beam intensity. The dynamics of NPs and pattern formation is studied by measuring in real time the transmission and reflectivity of the sample upon homogeneous beam exposure and the intensity of the diffraction orders 0 and 1 in transmission configuration upon modulated beam exposure. The results show that laser irradiation induces melting of the metal either completely or at regions around intensity maxima sites for homogeneous and modulated beam exposure, respectively, within ≤10 ns. The aggregation and/or coalescence of the initially irregular metal nanostructures is triggered upon melting and continues after solidification (estimated to occur at ≤80 ns) for more than 1 μs. The present results demonstrate that real time transmission rather than reflectivity measurements is a valuable and easy-to-use tool for following the dynamics of NPs and pattern formation. They provide insights on the heat-driven processes occurring both in liquid and solid phases and allow controlling in-situ the process through the fluence. They also evidence that there is negligible lateral heat release in discontinuous films upon laser irradiation.
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
Use of Frit‐Disc Crucible Sets to Make Solution Growth More Quantitative and Versatile
The recent availability of step‐edge, frit‐disc crucible sets (generally sold as Canfield Crucible Sets or CCS) has led to multiple innovations associated with the group's use of solution growth. The use of CCS allows for the clean separation of liquid from solid phases during the growth process. This clean separation enables the reuse of the decanted liquid, either allowing for simple, economic, savings associated with recycling expensive precursor elements or allowing for the fractionation of a growth into multiple, small steps, revealing the progression of multiple solidifications. Clean separation of liquid from solid phases also allows for the determination of the liquidus line (or surface) and the creation, or correction, of composition–temperature phase diagrams. The reuse of clean decanted liquid has also allowed to prepare liquids ideally suited for the growth of large single crystals of specific phases by tuning the composition of the melt to the optimal composition for growth of the desired phase, often with reduced nucleation sites. Finally, it is discussed how solution growth and CCS use can be harnessed to provide a plethora of composition–temperature data points defining liquidus lines or surfaces with differing degrees of precision to either test or anchor artificial intelligence and/or machine‐learning‐based attempts to augment and extend the limited experimentally determined database.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Solubility Testing to Support the Addition of Sodium Reactor Experiment Material to Sludge Batch 10
The Savannah River Site H-Canyon Facility is planning to discard dissolved Sodium Reactor Experiment (SRE) material into Tank 51 prior to Sludge Batch 10 (SB10). SB10 with the SRE material will be processed in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) using the Nitric-Glycolic Acid (NGA) flowsheet. The DWPF Nuclear Criticality Safety Evaluation (NCSE) protects a 14:1 mass ratio of manganese to equivalent uranium-235 in both the solid and liquid phases during processing by requiring a 70:1 mass ratio in the feed. A concern was raised that freshly precipitated manganese in the SRE material will behave differently from the manganese in sludge during DWPF processing and potentially invalidate the criticality control. To mitigate risks to the DWPF criticality controls, the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) performed a metals solubility test applicable to recently precipitated manganese and uranium, as would be expected with SRE transfers to SB10. The objective of this analysis is the tracking of partitioning of the primary fissile component (uranium-235) with the credited poison (manganese) between the aqueous and insoluble phases.
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗