Production of plutonium oxide in support of mixed oxide (MOX) nuclear fuels remains a primary goal of the Advanced Recovery Integrated Extraction System (ARIES) at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  An integral step in this process is the Direct Metal Oxidation (DMO) of plutonium primary �pits�.  This certified production of plutonium oxide must meet DOE-STD-3013 requirements to ensure safe transport and long-term storage goals.  Acceptable material is verified by the following physical and chemical measurements: thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, specific surface area, particle size determinations, and bulk and tapped density.  Plutonium oxide in various stages of the ARIES process, muffle furnace-oxide, and oxide produced under atmospheric conditions were analyzed by scanning electron microcopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to confirm particle size, characterize fine-structure detail, and identify elemental constituents.  Plutonium oxides derived from multiple process streams were compared utilizing these analytical techniques. Property-process relationships will be discussed.

Comparison of plutonium oxides from diverse process streams

245th National Meeting (2013)

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