Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1997 International RERTR Meeting

DISSOLUTION OF LOW-ENRICHED UO2/AI DISPERSION PLATES IN
ALKALINE PEROX1DE SOLUTION

C. Conner, S. Aase, D. G. Wygmans, and G. F. Vandegrift
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne, Illinois U.S.A.

D. Wu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois U.S.A.

S. Landsberger
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois U.S.A.

ABSTRACT

A simple empirical model was developed to predict the rate of UO₂ dissolution in alkaline peroxide solutions. This showed that UO₂ could be dissolved in alkaline peroxide solutions at a rate high enough to be practical for use in the recovery of ⁹⁹Mo from irradiated UO₂/Al dispersion targets. Once it was shown that the rate of dissolution of UO₂ was sufficiently high to be useful, compacts of UO₂ and Al powder were dissolved, and the distribution of uranium and activation and fission products was measured through the various dissolution steps. These compacts simulate the "meat" of a UO₂/Al dispersion target. The test results show promise for the use of a low-enriched UO₂/Al dispersion target for the production of ⁹⁹Mo.

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