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An Evaluation of the Electrometallurgical Approach for Treatment of Excess Weapons Plutonium (1996) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-8

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From page 1...
... The committees Preliminary report was issued in February 1995,~ and a more extensive report was published in July 1995. In July 1995, the DOE requested that the Committee on Electrometallurgical Techniques for DOE Spent Fuel Treatment continue its activity by carrying out two tasks: first, to monitor the scientific and technical progress of the ANL's program on electrometallurgical techniques for the treatment of DOE spent nuclear fuel, including both the redirected research program at ANL-East and the fuel treatment program at ANL-West associated with the ongoing shutdown of the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-lI)
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From page 2...
... This approach contrasts with the originally proposed scheme that was considered by CISAC and its Reactor Panel, in which We plutonium, other transuranics, rare-earth fission products, and some uranium were to be reduced to metals at a molten cadmium cathode and finally cast as metal ingots.7 In each of these schemes, We waste form would include both We plutonium and radioactive fission products, thereby providing the rationale for plutonium disposition in accord with the "spent fuel standard." ANL has proposed using the electrometallurgical technique for disposition not only of weapons "pits" (the plutonium components of nuclear weapons, named by analogy with the pit of a fruit such as a peach) , but also for the non-pit materials that include plutonium in any other shape or chemical form.
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From page 3...
... Plutonium Disposition Flow Sheet Option ANL has indicated that "the plutonium immobilization process is visualized as being conducted in the same facilities, in the same electrorefiner, and at the same time as the spent fuel treatment" (Appendix B ~ DOE Fissile Material Disposition Program, Screening of Alternate Immobilization Candidates for Disposition of Surplus Fissile Materials, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, L-20790- 1, 1996.
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From page 4...
... For the application of the electrometallurgical treatment technology to surplus fissile material disposition, ANL proposes the addition of CsCI from capsules at DOE's Hanford Reservation to create the radiation barrier to meet the "spent fuel standard." The pretreatment for removal of plutonium from weapons components would consist of hydriding hollowest by either dehydriding or chlorination. The hydriding step would eliminate security issues associated with weapons pits, including their classified shape.
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From page 5...
... Currently, both waste forms are being evaluated as to their suitability for incorporation of excess weapons plutonium, including their ability to comply with the "spent fuel standard" for the final disposition of plutonium. Zeolite Waste Form Physical Characteristics A molten chloride stream containing chlorides of plutonium, residual uranium, fission products other than noble metals, and transuranic elements would be produced by the simultaneous electrometallurgical treatment of excess weapons plutonium, DOE spent nuclear fuel, and in some cases additional 137CS now in storage at Hanford.
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From page 6...
... For testing and evaluation of waste forms, the committee recommends the following: A schedule should be developed and implemented for demonstrating waste form performance over a time period commensurate with DOE's plans for treatment of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and conversion of WPu to a form suitable for ultimate disposal.
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From page 7...
... The current ANL program for treatment of EBR-II fuel appears to be the most cost-effective and timely way to make that demonstration for several, but not all, elements of the electrometallurgical technique. Were the electrometallurgical technique to be demonstrated successfully for treatment of DOE spent fuel and the issues relating to the waste forms resolved, the electrometallurgical technique could provide a potential method for handling excess plutonium at some later time.
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From page 8...
... The committee concurs with the earlier statements of CISAC and its Reactor Pane} on excess weapons plutonium: "The existence of this surplus material constitutes a clear and present danger."~6 "The timing of disposition options is crucial to minimizing risks."~7 The urgency of moving ahead with disposing of weapons plutonium makes scheduling considerations an important factor in deciding whether or not the electrometallurgical technique is a practicable and timely solution. The potential advantage of the electrometallurgical technique for disposition of excess plutonium depends on the availability of operational electrometallurgical process equipment.
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Key Terms

  • spent fuel
  • weapons plutonium
  • fission products
  • excess weapons
  • electrometallurgical technique

  • doe spent
  • waste forms
  • form performance
  • electrometallurgical processing
  • electrometallurgical process

  • spent nuclear
  • transuranic elements
  • electrometallurgical approach
  • reactor panel
  • flow sheet

  • fuel treatment
  • nuclear fuel
  • plutonium disposition
  • electrometallurgical treatment
  • electrometallurgical techniques

  • zeolite waste
  • fuel standard
  • international security
  • spent fuels
  • treating doe

  • fissile material
  • material disposition
  • arms control
  • excess plutonium
  • disposition program


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