NUCLEAR SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHOP REPORT November 7, 2011 FINAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms and Initialisms............................................................................................................ iii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Overview .......................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Background .................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Breakout Sessions .......................................................................................................... 12 2. Plenary ................................................................................................................................... 15 2.1 Keynote Address ............................................................................................................ 15 2.2 DOE Office Missions ..................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Office of Nuclear Energy ................................................................................................ 16 2.2.2 Office of Environmental Management ............................................................................ 16 2.2.3 National Nuclear Security Administration ...................................................................... 17 2.3 Nuclear Separations Program Overviews ...................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Office of Nuclear Energy ................................................................................................ 18 2.3.2 Office of Environmental Management ............................................................................ 18 2.3.3 National Nuclear Security Administration ...................................................................... 18 2.4 Closing Remarks ............................................................................................................ 19 3. Breakout Sessions.................................................................................................................. 21 3.1 Chemistry and Speciation of the Actinides and Key Fission Products (Cs, Tc, I) ......... 21 3.1.1 Background Information ................................................................................................. 21 3.1.2 Grand Challenges ............................................................................................................ 22 3.1.3 Proposed Solutions .......................................................................................................... 23 3.2 Design of Molecules and Materials with Selective Separation Properties ..................... 25 3.2.1 Background Information ................................................................................................. 25 3.2.2 Grand Challenges (including identified capability gaps) ................................................ 26 3.2.3 Proposed Solutions .......................................................................................................... 29 3.3 Scale-up of Separation Processes from Bench-Top to Plant .......................................... 31 3.3.1 Background Information ................................................................................................. 31 3.3.2 Grand Challenges ............................................................................................................ 32 3.3.3 Proposed Solutions .......................................................................................................... 34 3.3.4 Overall Findings and Recommendations ........................................................................ 37 3.4 Interface Issues between Separations and Waste Forms/Fuel Fabrication .................... 38 3.4.1 Background Information .................................................................................................... 38 3.4.2 Grand Challenges .............................................................................................................. 39 3.4.3 Proposed Solutions ............................................................................................................ 39 i NUCLEAR SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHOP REPORT November 7, 2011 FINAL 4. Crosscutting Results ............................................................................................................. 43 4.1 Overarching Themes ...................................................................................................... 43 4.1.1 Summary-Level Program Office Needs .......................................................................... 43 4.1.2 Need for a Comprehensive Vision of and Approach to Separations RD&D—Informed by Modeling and Simulation ................................................................................................. 44 4.1.3 Need for Ready Access to Appropriately Scaled and Capable Facilities ........................ 45 4.1.4 The Need for Contributions from a Broad Spectrum of Disciplines ............................... 45 4.2 Shared Disciplines/Areas of Interest .............................................................................. 46 4.2.1 Computational Modeling and Simulation ...................................................................... 46 4.2.2 Experimental Validation ................................................................................................. 46 4.2.3 Radiochemical Diversity ................................................................................................. 46 4.2.4 Challenging Environments .............................................................................................. 46 4.2.5 National Policy, Regulatory Requirements and Other Considerations ........................... 47 4.2.6 Nonproliferation .............................................................................................................. 47 4.3 Advantages of a Center of Knowledge for Nuclear Separations Technologies ............. 47 4.3.1 Definition of RD&D Needs ............................................................................................... 47 4.3.2 Coordination and Integration of Separations RD&D ........................................................ 48 4.3.3 Establishment of a Scientific User Facility for Separations RD&D .................................. 48 References .................................................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A. Breakout Session Report: Chemistry and Speciation of the Actinides and Key Fission Products Appendix B. Breakout Session Report: Design of Molecules and Materials with Selective Separation Properties Appendix C. Breakout Session Report: Scale-up of Separation Processes from Bench-Top to Plant Appendix D. Breakout Session Report: Interface Issues between Separations and Waste Forms/Fuel Fabrication Appendix E. Workshop Sponsors Appendix F. Agenda Appendix G. Participant List ii NUCLEAR SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHOP REPORT November 7, 2011 FINAL A CRONYMS AND INITIALISMS μm Micrometer(s) DoD Department of Defense μM Micromolar DOE Department of Energy 3D Three-Dimensional DTPA Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Al Aluminum Acid Am Americium DWPF Defense Waste Processing Facility AMEX Amine Extraction EM Office of Environmental ASTM ASTM International, formerly Management the American Society for Testing and Materials FCR&D Fuel Cycle Research and Development (program) ATR Advanced Test Reactor FCT Fuel Cycle Technologies Be Beryllium FP Fission Product BRC Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future GDP Gaseous Diffusion Plant BTP Bis-Triazinyl-Pyridine GPO Government Printing Office C Carbon GTRI Global Threat Reduction Initiative Ca Calcium H Hydrogen CaDTPA Calcium Diethylenetriaminepentaacetate HEU Highly Enriched Uranium Complex HLW High-Level Waste CEA Commissariat à l’energie HM Heavy Metal atomique HOPO Hydroxypyridinonate CFD Computational Fluid I Iodine Dynamics IAEA International Atomic Energy CFR Code of Federal Regulations Agency Cl Chlorine IL Ionic Liquid Cm Curium In Indium Co Cobalt Ir Iridium CRESP Consortium for Risk ITP In-Tank Precipitation Process Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation IX Ion Exchange Cs Cesium kg Kilogram(s) CSEX Cesium Extraction Kr Krypton CSSX Caustic-Side Solvent LAW Low-Activity Waste Extraction LEU Low-Enriched Uranium CST Crystalline Silicotitanate (ion LLW Low-Level Waste exchange) LWR Light Water Reactor iii NUCLEAR SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHOP REPORT November 7, 2011 FINAL M Molar RD&D Research, Development and MD Molecular Dynamics Demonstration mm Millimeter(s) RDD Radiological Dispersal Device (e.g., dirty bomb) mM Millimolar REDOX Oxidation Reduction Mo Molybdenum S Sulfur MOX Mixed Oxide SC Office of Science Na Sodium SCN- Thiocyanate NA-10 Defense Programs (NNSA) SNF Spent Nuclear Fuel (as used in NA-20 Office of Defense Nuclear this report, equivalent to used Nonproliferation nuclear fuel) NAS National Academy of Sciences Sr Strontium NE Office of Nuclear Energy SREX Strontium Extraction NIH National Institutes of Health SS&T Separation Science and NIS Office of Nonproliferation