Reprocessing of Boron Carbide from Irradiated Control Rods PRA-0033

Full Title Reprocessing of Boron Carbide from Irradiated Control Rods of Fast Neutron Reactors Tech Area / Field

• ENV-RWT: Environment / Radioactive Waste Treatment

Brief Description of Technology
The boron carbide from control rods used up in fast reactors can be re-processed and re-used with the help of the technology we have developed. The final product of the process - boron carbide - is free from radioactive and gas impurities. The technology makes it possible to receive boric acid, boric oxide, a boron carbide powder, and boron carbide pellets as a commercial products. For industrial use of the technology, it is necessary to research the technological parameters of the process in order to optimize product proportions, improve its quality and automate the process.

Legal Aspects
The boron carbide used in fast neutron reactor shutdown rods is enriched by the isotope boron-10. The cost of a such enriched boron carbide on the world market reaches $20,000 per kg. After maintenance of the shutdown rods up to a limiting condition of constructional materials, the boron carbide has a weak burn-up and can supply further maintenance in the reactor. This is hindered by induced radio-activity impurities, the presence of gas impurities, modification of the dimension and destruction of the thermal strains of the pellets. The proposed technology will supply a full liberatation from all impurities and radio-activity and will restore the properties of boron carbide properties. The developed technology for the re-processing of irradiated boron carbide is not applied anywhere in the world.

Special Facilities in Use and Their Specifications
Set for the chloric re-processing of radioactive boron carbide.

Scientific Papers
V.D.Risovany, A.V.Zakharov, Y.P.Klochkov at all “Re-processing of the irradiated boron carbide enriched by boron-10 isotope and its re-use in control rods of fast breeder reactors” / Absorber materials, control rods and designs of shutdown systems of advanced liquid metal fast reactors. IAEA Proceeding of Technical Committee meeting held in Obninsk, Russian Federation, 3-7 July 1995, IAEA-TECDOC-884, June 1996.

Ionizing Radiation Sources on the Basis of Transplutonium PRA-0034

Full Title Development of a Scientific Basis for the Production Technology and the Arrangement of Production of Ionizing Radiation Sources on the Basis of Metals, Alloys, and Compounds of Transplutonium Elements Tech Area / Field

• FIR-INS: Fission Reactors / Nuclear Instrumentation
• CHE-SYN: Chemistry / Basic and Synthetic Chemistry

Brief Description of Technology
Fundamental studies concerning the production and investigation of Transplutonium Element (TPE) metals, their alloys, and intermetallics have been carried out at the SSC RIAR. New procedures for the production of alloys have been invented at the RIAR, such as the hydrogen reduction of TPE oxides, either on the surface of metal substrates or distributed through the whole matrix, and the method of TPE oxide thermal reduction with metals followed by high temperature condensation of TPE metal vapor onto metal plate substrates. Research and control procedures have been developed.

A State Prize of Science and Technology of the Russian Federation was awarded for fundamental research dealing with TPE metals, alloys, and intermetallics preparation and the study of their properties.

Legal Aspects
Methods of radionuclide-source active core preparations are supported by five patents of the Russian Federation.

Special Facilities in Use and Their Specifications
We have developed a set of devices and procedures for the preparation and investigation of TPE metals, their intermetallics and alloys with metals from the platinum group. Each of the developed devices consists of the following main elements: either a reaction cell or a vacuum chamber, a gas-purification system, a vacuum system and a high frequency generator. Some of the elements are mounted in glove boxes.

Scientific Papers
V.M.Radchenko, V.D.Shushakov, A.G.Seleznev et al., Pt₅An (An=Am, Cm, Bk, Cf) intermetallic compounds.- J.Less-Common Metals, 1990, v.157, pp.147-153.

V.M.Radchenko, B.M.Andreychikov, V.M.Berkutov ey al., Alpha-sources for "Phobos" project.- Radiochimiya (Rus), 1990, v.32, No.3, pp.142-145.

V.M.Radchenko, A.G.Seleznev, V.D.Shushakov, et al., Intermetallics and alloys of Transplutonium Elements with metals of Platinum Group.- J.Radioanalyt. and Nuclear Chemistry, 1990, v.143, pp.261-267.

V.M.Radchenko, A.G.Seleznev, M.A.Ryabinin et al., Synthesis and investigation of actiniods ans lanthanoids binary compounds. XVIII. Investigation of ²⁴⁴Cm alloys with platinum, iridium, and rhodium prepared by metal curium vapour condensation.- Radiochimiya (Rus), 1994, v.36, No.4, pp.229-303.

V.M.Radchenko, A.G.Seleznev, M.A.Ryabinin et al., Synthesis and investigation of actiniod and lanthanoid binary compounds. XXI. On the formation of alloys of curium with aluminium.- Radiochimiya (Rus), 1996, v.38, No.5, pp.391-394.

V.M.Radchenko, B.M.Andreychikov, T.Economou et al., Alpha-sources for MARS project. - 4th International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Saint-Malo, France, Sept.1996, Extended Abstracts, v.II, F-P6.

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