Thermodynamic modeling to facilitate safe handling of CsCl sealed sources

Charles F. Weber; David G. Abrecht

doi:10.1007/s10967-022-08592-8

Thermodynamic modeling to facilitate safe handling of CsCl sealed sources

Charles F. Weber, David G. Abrecht

Collection Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sealed radiation sources containing CsCl have a chemical instability created by decay of ¹³⁷Cs to ¹³⁷Ba that creates a strong reducing environment inside the source. If exposed to air, strong exothermic reaction could result and may vaporize contents of the source. This study examines chemical equilibria inside sources before and after exposure to air to identify reactions involved and uncertainties due to decay time, temperature, impurity content, and cesium isotopic distribution. The overall goal is to present quantitative understanding that will inform safe handling and dismantlement procedures for sources.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4905-4911
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Volume	331
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08592-8
State	Published - Dec 2022

Funding

This work was sponsored by the US Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Radiological Security.

Keywords

Chemical equilibria
Cs decay
Harborview accident
Sealed sources

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10.1007/s10967-022-08592-8

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title = "Thermodynamic modeling to facilitate safe handling of CsCl sealed sources",

abstract = "Sealed radiation sources containing CsCl have a chemical instability created by decay of 137Cs to 137Ba that creates a strong reducing environment inside the source. If exposed to air, strong exothermic reaction could result and may vaporize contents of the source. This study examines chemical equilibria inside sources before and after exposure to air to identify reactions involved and uncertainties due to decay time, temperature, impurity content, and cesium isotopic distribution. The overall goal is to present quantitative understanding that will inform safe handling and dismantlement procedures for sources.",

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AU - Abrecht, David G.

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N2 - Sealed radiation sources containing CsCl have a chemical instability created by decay of 137Cs to 137Ba that creates a strong reducing environment inside the source. If exposed to air, strong exothermic reaction could result and may vaporize contents of the source. This study examines chemical equilibria inside sources before and after exposure to air to identify reactions involved and uncertainties due to decay time, temperature, impurity content, and cesium isotopic distribution. The overall goal is to present quantitative understanding that will inform safe handling and dismantlement procedures for sources.

AB - Sealed radiation sources containing CsCl have a chemical instability created by decay of 137Cs to 137Ba that creates a strong reducing environment inside the source. If exposed to air, strong exothermic reaction could result and may vaporize contents of the source. This study examines chemical equilibria inside sources before and after exposure to air to identify reactions involved and uncertainties due to decay time, temperature, impurity content, and cesium isotopic distribution. The overall goal is to present quantitative understanding that will inform safe handling and dismantlement procedures for sources.

KW - Chemical equilibria

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KW - Harborview accident

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Thermodynamic modeling to facilitate safe handling of CsCl sealed sources

Abstract

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Keywords

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