| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Seaborg Institutes: Emerging Topics in Actinide Materials and Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Materials Chemistry of Neptunium Dioxide Produced Through Modified Direct Denitration |
| Author(s) |
Kathryn M. Peruski, Connor J. Parker, Samantha K Cary |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Kathryn M. Peruski |
| Abstract Scope |
Synthesis of neptunium-237 target materials for production of plutonium-238 radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) is crucial to meet ongoing power needs for deep space exploration. The current flowsheet at ORNL produces neptunium dioxide for target material using modified direct denitration (MDD) in a rotary kiln. Continual optimization of target production requires research on the fundamental chemical reactions occurring at the engineering scale to provide input into process adjustments and scale-up. Specifically, ongoing studies of Np materials chemistry seek to optimize powder properties for targets and to address the potential for variability in powder properties during the MDD process. The aim of this work is to characterize crystalline phases, morphology, surface texture, and particle size of neptunium dioxide produced via MDD reactions. Solid-phase characterization techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), are applied to Np materials directly from the MDD production line. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |