Some investigations of the reaction of activated charcoal with fluorine and uranium hexafluoride

Since the 1969 shutdown of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) at Oak Ridge, radiolytically generated fluorine (F-2) and 233-uranium hexafluorid e ((UF6)-U-233) migrated from the fuel storage tanks through gas piping to a charcoal bed. This report addresses the carbon-fluorine-uranium chemistry under conditions reproducing those found in the charcoal beds. Laboratory analysis of the reaction products has been extensive and includes electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) , FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, TGA-DTA as well as a host of other technique s. The chemical identity, stoichiometry, structure, thermochemistry, and po tential for energetic decomposition of the primary reaction product, 'fluor inated charcoal', was determined. As a result of this research, remedial so lutions were developed and implemented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.