DISSOLUTION OF LOW-ENRICHED UO 2/Al DISPERSION PLATES IN ALKALINE PEROXIDE SOLUTION

A simple empirical model was developed to predict the rate of UO 2 dissolution in alkaline peroxide solutions. This showed that UO 2 could be dissolved in alkaline peroxide solutions at a rate high enough to be practical for use in the recovery of 99Mo from irradiated UO2/Al dispersion targets. Once it was shown that the rate of dissolution of UO2 was sufficiently high to be useful, compacts of UO 2 and Al powder were dissolved, and the distribution of uranium and activation and fission products was measured through the various dissolution steps. These compacts simulate the "meat" of a UO2/Al dispersion target. The test results show promise for the use of a low-enriched UO2/Al dispersion target for the production of 99 Mo.