Characterization of the solid, airborne materials created by the interaction of UF/sub 6/ with atmospheric moisture in a contained volume

Pickrell, P.W.

doi:10.2172/5260598

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…UF 6 is a very reactive gas that reacts with atmospheric moisture to form uranium oxyuoride (UO 2 F 2 ). 7,8 Given the large amounts of UF 4 and UF 6 used at conversion and enrichment facilities, very small releases to the atmosphere are common and result in the deposition of particulate UF 4 and/or UO 2 F 2 material. So, the detection of a signicant amount of F in such U particles is a proof that uranium has been converted at one point before the sampling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of traces of fluorine in micrometer sized uranium bearing particles using SIMS

Fauré

Rodriguez

Marie

et al. 2014

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

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The isotopic analysis of micrometer sized uranium bearing particles, released from nuclear facilities, has been proven to be an efficient tool for safeguarding purposes. However these analyses are not always sufficient for identifying specifically some crucial nuclear operations, like uranium conversion, which are most of the time carried out with natural uranium. A secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) methodology to detect and analyze micrometer sized particles that contain both uranium and fluorine is described. Following the particle detection, which is performed automatically, individual particles are analyzed under microbeam conditions to measure both a precise uranium isotopic composition and the relative amount of fluorine. We first confirm that the sample thermal treatment is prohibited to preserve the fluorine signature of the particles. The methodology was applied to uranium particles coming from the fuel cycle upstream from the enrichment step. This study demonstrates that, contrary to uranium isotopic measurements, the measurement of the relative amount of fluorine allows discrimination between uranium ore concentrate particles and particles coming from a conversion plant. Moreover, the results, obtained for particles which were collected 4 years ago in the surroundings of a conversion plant, show also that the sample storage in a plastic bag at ambient temperature and in the dark is enough to prevent a significant loss of fluorine and the disappearance of the conversion signature. Finally the methodology was applied successfully to an unknown real-life environmental sample.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of traces of fluorine in micrometer sized uranium bearing particles using SIMS

Fauré

Rodriguez

Marie

et al. 2014

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

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“…104,105 Two early studies considering the particle size and morphology of the UO 2 F 2 particulate, conducted by Pickrell and by Lux, yielded somewhat contrasting findings. 106,107 Pickrell concluded that the RH and aerosol incubation period, or growth time, affected the particle size and morphology of the resulting UO 2 F 2 particulate, whereas Lux found the particle size distribution of the UO 2 F 2 particulate matter to be largely unaffected by varying humidity. To help resolve this disagreement, recent work by Kips et al used SEM to study the effect of humidity on the UO 2 F 2 particle morphology.…”

Section: Rolison Et Al and Migeon Et Al Recently Investigated The Mol...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in Uranium Chemistry: Driving Advances in Front-End Nuclear Fuel Cycle Forensics

et al. 2021

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The front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle encompasses several chemical and physical processes used to acquire and prepare uranium for use in a nuclear reactor. These same processes can also be used for weapons or nefarious purposes, necessitating the need for technical means to help detect, investigate, and prevent the nefarious use of nuclear material and nuclear fuel cycle technology. Over the past decade, a significant research effort has investigated uranium compounds associated with the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium ore concentrates (UOCs), UF 4 , UF 6 , and UO 2 F 2 . These efforts have furthered uranium chemistry with an aim to expand and improve the field of nuclear forensics. Focus has been given to the morphology of various uranium compounds, trace elemental and chemical impurities in process samples of uranium compounds, the degradation of uranium compounds, particularly under environmental conditions, and the development of improved or new techniques for analysis of uranium compounds. Overall, this research effort has identified relevant chemical and physical characteristics of uranium compounds that can be used to help discern the origin, process history, and postproduction history for a sample of uranium material. This effort has also identified analytical techniques that could be brought to bear for nuclear forensics purposes. Continued research into these uranium compounds should yield additional relevant chemical and physical characteristics and analytical approaches to further advance front-end nuclear fuel cycle forensics capabilities.

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“…The white fog is an aerosol consisting of particulate matter or particles of complicated chemical composition. After extensive characterization efforts for the particulate materials in the past few decades, we now know that the aerosol population consists of UO2F2 as a main reaction product when UF6 is in contact with H2O vapor (Kessie 1967, Bostick et al 1983, 1984, Kips et al 2007, Kips and Kristo 2009, Pickrell 1982, 1984, 1985. UF6 hydrolysis produces solid UO2F2 particles and also HF, a hazardous toxic gas, as written in Eq.…”

Section: Pathways To Airborne Uranyl Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous microscopic studies of UO2F2 formation produced many micrographs (Bostick et al 1983, 1984, Kips et al 2007, Pickrell 1982, 1984, 1985. As the UO2F2 particles were produced, they were likely to be in a spherical shape at the beginning.…”

Section: Size Of Primary Particlementioning

confidence: 99%

Formation of Aerosol Nanoparticles by Gas-Phase Hydrolysis Reaction of Uranium Hexafluoride

Fugate

Richards

Hubbard

et al. 2021

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Characterization of the solid, airborne materials created by the interaction of UF/sub 6/ with atmospheric moisture in a contained volume

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Detection of traces of fluorine in micrometer sized uranium bearing particles using SIMS

Detection of traces of fluorine in micrometer sized uranium bearing particles using SIMS

Progress in Uranium Chemistry: Driving Advances in Front-End Nuclear Fuel Cycle Forensics

Formation of Aerosol Nanoparticles by Gas-Phase Hydrolysis Reaction of Uranium Hexafluoride

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