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Analysis of BET specific surface area in several recycled oxide powders

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Abstract

The surface area data of feed oxide powders is of fundamental interest to optimize the process of nuclear fuel fabrication. The single-point Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) specific surface area of several recycled powders (synthesized from rejected scrap fuel pellets) was determined and compared with as-received and standard specified powders. Recycled UO2, ThO2, (U,Pu)O2 powders from bulk microwave dissolution-denitration process showed acceptable specific surface area for fuel pellet fabrication. The dry oxidation–reduction process recycled UO2 and (U,Pu)O2 powders demonstrated lower surface area than the standard specified due to larger particle size (D50). The surface area of ThO2 from bulk microwave dissolution-denitration (3.5–4.5 m2/g) was comparable to the standard and further enhanced in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aided denitration.

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Notes

  1. Theoretical density (TD) for UO2: 10.96 g/cm3, PuO2: 11.46 g/cm3, ThO2: 10.00 g/cm3.

  2. The specific surface area is the total surface area (external surface of a solid plus the internal surface of its pores) of a material per unit of mass.

  3. Green density: Density of compacted pellets before sintering usually 55% of TD.

  4. Where \(P\) is equilibrium pressure and \({P}_{o}\) is saturated pressure of N2 in the mixture.

  5. D50 is median particle diameter corresponding to the 50th percentile of the cumulative undersize distribution (here by volume).

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank all colleagues of Microwave Processing Laboratory, Oxide Fuel Section. Special acknowledgments to Sh. Anil B. Name, Sh. R. B. Bhong, Sh. Y. S. Kapoor, Sh. Ashish Bhatkar, Mrs. Shital Patil, Sh.Anil Yadav for the cooperation extended during the experimental work.

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Singh, G., Aher, S.C., Varma, P.V.S. et al. Analysis of BET specific surface area in several recycled oxide powders. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 555–564 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07528-4

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