Depleted uranium disposal options evaluation

Abstract

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Uranium-233 waste definition: Disposal options, safeguards, criticality control, and arms control

“…In the United States, about 400,000 t of DU is in storage (Hertzler, Nishimoto, and Otis 1994). DOE is currently looking for uses for this material.…”

Feasibility study on consolidation of Fernald Environmental Management Project depleted uranium materials

“…The majority of the cost (77 percent) is in the UF, to metal conversion $7.70/kg ($3.50/lb). The UF, to UF, conversion cost is estimated to be about $2.31/kg ($1.05/lb) to produce average quality DU metal (Heeler 1994 andKaplan 1995).…”

LnUO4‐based glass–ceramic composites as waste forms for the immobilization of lanthanide‐bearing uranium wastes

“…12 Note that the primary waste from uranium enrichment is a depleted uranium (DU) product, in which U 3 O 8 , UO 2 , and UF 6 are the main DU forms in industry, with U 3 O 8 being the most common and preferred state. 13 All these U-rich radioactive wastes must be immobilized in highly durable materials as waste forms for final geological disposal. Owing to the low amount of uranium released from fluorite-structured UO 2 and brannerite (UTi 2 O 6 ) under reducing environments, they have been primarily studied as potential host materials.…”

“…Uranium‐rich radioactive wastes are also generated from the production of radiopharmaceuticals, such as 99 Mo 11 as well as uranium isotope enrichment, for example, the production of nuclear fuel (3.5–4.5‐wt% 235 U) from natural uranium (0.7‐wt% 235 U) 12 . Note that the primary waste from uranium enrichment is a depleted uranium (DU) product, in which U 3 O 8 , UO 2 , and UF 6 are the main DU forms in industry, with U 3 O 8 being the most common and preferred state 13 …”