Chemical composition of inhalable MOX powders prepared according to a SOLGEL process: energy dispersive X-ray analysis of individual particles

Comparative absorption parameters of Pu and Am from PuO2and mixed oxide aerosols measured afterin vitrodissolution test and inhalation in rats

“…Plutonium dioxide, PuO 2 , (Melox, Cogema, France) calcinated at 850 ‡C used in the MOX fuel fabrication process; . MOX powder made according to the MIMAS (Melox, Cogema, France) process (Massiot et al 1998b) at 1700 ‡C containing 4.19% (w/w) of Pu and obtained after pellet rectification; . MOX powder made according to the SOLGEL (ITU, Karlsruhe, Germany) process (Massiot et al 1998c;Stringer et al 1984) at 1750 ‡C containing 4.44% (w/w) of Pu and obtained after pellet grinding.…”

ICRP Publication 141: Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides: Part 4

“… (755) Actinide-bearing mixed oxides have been used as fuel in some pressurised water reactors. These materials are prepared using different fabrication processes, consisting either of a dry mix of plutonium and depleted uranium oxides, UO 2 + PuO 2 , referred to as the ‘MIMAS process’ (Haas et al., 1994; Massiot et al., 1998a), or co-precipitation of soluble forms of these actinides (U,Pu)O 2 , referred to as the ‘SOLGEL process’, where the powder forms are obtained by calcination or grinding (Stringer et al., 1984; Massiot et al., 1998b). Plutonium can form between ∼2.5% and 7% by mass, with an isotopic composition depending on its history. …”