Wet Processing Line

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

Appendix B; Plutonium Recovery Facility

The sampling glovebox also serves as the entry point for recycling sample solutions for

recovery. Excess sample solutions are collected in 2-liter plastic bottles in the H-7 analytical

lab. When one of these bottles is full, it is capped, bagged out of a glovebox, and placed

inside a steel can that is locked shut. It is then hand-carried to the maintenance side of the

sampling glovebox. The bottle is entered into the glovebox via an airlock and its contents

are manually poured into a 100-liter slab tank identical in description to those found in the

dissolving lines. Periodically, this tank is sampled and sent to the ion exchange feed tanks

where any necessary chemistry adjustments are conducted.

2.2.2.5 W et P rocessin g L in e

The wet processing line encompasses three gloveboxes that handle plutonium solutions to

produce solid plutonium peroxide precipitate. These gloveboxes are the ion exchange line,

the peroxide precipitation line, and the evaporation line. As with the dissolving line, the

three gloveboxes are distinct but joined together structurally.

2.2.2.5.1

I on E xch an ge

The ion exchange process is presented schematically as Figure B.9. It consists of

three ion exchange columns in series with support equipment and piping. The

columns themselves are 6-inch-diameter, 5.5-feet-tall Pyrex cylinders with flanged

heads on top and bottom. Each column holds approximately 24 liters of Dowex 21-K

anion resin or equivalent. The system is designed so that the plutonium processed in

a given cycle will normally be absorbed on the first two columns, with the last

column serving only as a safeguard against breakthrough.

The contents of four or five dissolving tanks are passed through the ion exchange

columns in a complete extraction cycle. As noted in discussing the dissolving line,

ion exchange feed concentration is adjusted to decrease the plutonium concentration

to the range of 5 to 7 g/l. This prevents plutonium sulfates from forming and also

assists in minimizing the chances of plutonium existing in the wrong valence in

solution. Plutonium is loaded on the resin by pumping the dissolver solutions through

the columns (upflow) after any additional chemical adjustments have been performed.

Suction is taken on the appropriate tank by a gear pump in the ion exchange glovebox

which directs flow through a filter and a steam-heated heat exchanger. The heat

exchanger serves to raise solution temperature initially to approximately 120 F to

decrease the loading time. The effluent from the ion exchange columns is transferred

to effluent storage tanks #9 through #12 in the tank farm.

Page B-36