Evaluation of Novel Inorganic Salt Fusions and Sonication to Dissolve Refractory Nuclear Debris
Abstract
Nuclear detonation creates extreme temperatures and pressures capable of vaporizing radionuclides and terrain material. The radiochemical composition of nuclear debris depends on the terrain at the blast site, energy released by detonation and device type. The explosion causes important radionuclides to unevenly disperse over the debris field. Analysis of the radionuclides in the debris field is yields information on the type of devise, its placement, and the explosive yield. The chemical analysis relies on chemical dissolution of debris followed by chemical separation and measurement of relevant radioisotopes. Incomplete dissolution of debris or surface analysis techniques could result in an analytical bias for measurement of total radionuclide. This could negatively impact radiochemistry data that is used in attribution analysis. To avoid the potential for bias, representative samples must be completely dissolved prior to radiochemical analysis. Current chemical methods used to dissolve silicates and other potentially important refractory minerals present in nuclear debris use hydrofluoric acid. Challenges associated with the safe transportation and use of hydrofluoric acid limits sample dissolution to a laboratory setting. In this work, we explore alternative dissolution chemistry techniques that could be field deployable. The new work examines low temperature inorganic salt fusion with ammonium bifluoride and high temperature inorganic salt fusion with lithium borates. Experiments are being conducted to measure the capabilities of these inorganic fusions to dissolve a variety of refractory minerals. Important parameters being studied include the sample mass, reaction temperature, time, and the rate of silicon loss, recovery of volatile elements. If successful, this work will allow field deployable radiochemistry laboratories to analyze nuclear debris instead of sending the debris to brick and mortar laboratory facilities. This improvement could lead to significant reduction in the time necessary to analyze debris for nuclear attribution analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 26, 2016
- Source ID
- HDTRA11510016
Entities
People
- John D Brockman
Organizations
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- University of Missouri