Cutting Wheel Residues in Plutonium Waste Causes Explosion

Abstract

An explosion shattered a bell jar being used to oxidize waste from a plutonium cutting operation. The explosive materials were found to be flammable decomposition products (hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen and methane) from the organic binder in the cutting wheels. This incident demonstrates the need for ventilation and the need for close evaluation of operations that must be done in closed atmospheres.