Stabilization treatment of nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter

Senzaki, Tatsuya; Arai, Yoichi  ; Yano, Kimihiko ; Sato, Daisuke; Tada, Kohei  ; Ogi, Hiromichi*; Kawanobe, Takayuki*; Ono, Shimpei; Nakamura, Masahiro  ; Kitawaki, Shinichi ; Shibata, Atsuhiro  

In preparation for the decommissioning of Laboratory B of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratory, the nuclear fuel material that had been stored in the glove box for a long time was moved to the Chemical Processing Facility (CPF). This nuclear fuel material was stored with sealed by a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag in the storage. Since it was confirmed that the PVC bag swelled during storage, it seems that any gas was generated by radiolysis of the some components contained in the nuclear fuel material. In order to avoid breakage of the PVC bag and keep it safety for long time, we began the study on the stabilization treatment of the nuclear fuel material. First, in order to clarify the properties of nuclear fuel material, radioactivity analysis, component analysis, and thermal analysis were carried out. From the results of thermal analysis, the existence of organic matter was clarified. Then, ion exchange resin with similar thermal characteristics was selected and the thermal decomposition conditions were investigated. From the results of these analyzes and examinations, the conditions for thermal decomposition of the nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter was established. Performing a heat treatment of a small amount of nuclear fuel material in order to confirm the safety, after which the treatment amount was scaled up. It was confirmed by the weight change after the heat treatment that the nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter was completely decomposed.