Cost Studies on Plutonium and Americium Separations.

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ject: Cost Studies on Plutonium and Americium Sewat ions DP, Staniforth agreed t o prepare rough cost and feasibility determinations on three projects of interest t o the Division of Production and the Division of Militwy Application. I am enclosing these studies for transmittal toDr. Pittman. These studies were handicapped by a severe time schedule and a lack of data a t Mound on which t o base process premises and cost estimates. It is belfeved the more accurate data fora more detailed estimate would result in shorter time scales and reduced costs. Space and manpower could be made available at once f o r these programs. A summary of the results of the studies is given below: The S e ~ a r a tion of Plutonium and Americium from Hanford Reduct ion Crucibles When this report was prepared, the only data available were those associated with an ion exchange process. The data on the Cak Ridge solvent extraction process are now available and t h i s process could be substituted. The recovery of americium is a complicating factor, for there dces not seem t o be a process available t o specifically handle both the americium and plutonium recovery. The other uncertain technical point is the e f f e c t of the very large quantities of' magnesium. These points will require some chemical engineering studies t o provide a firm process flow sheet. The project is estimated t o require twelve months if a complete process flow sheet can be made immediately available. Three t o six months additional development time will be required if this cannot be done, Of this twelve months, six months i s actual operating time . The cost sununary is as follows : Facility and equipment $180,810* Chemical engineering and * $104,160 is equipment and materials cost. $ 76,650 is Mound labor and associated overhead. Released through the Record Copy held a t Alound Facilifi -1-

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The Separation and Purification of Plutonium and Americium from the Fuel Rods of Clement ine Here again an ion exchange procedure was selected, A factor wbich will require some chemical engineering study time is the jacket removal. The project 5 s estimated t o require twelve months if a complete process flow sheet can be made immediately available. Three tosix months development tlme will be required if this cannot be done. Of this twelve months, six months is actual operating tFme , The cost summary isas follows: Facility and equipnent $146,870 Chemical engineering and * $58,780 is equipment and materials cost. $88,090 is Mound labar and associated overhead. The Preparation of Curium-242 This was not t o be examined from a cost standpoint at t h i s time, but rather as t o whether Mound could play an active role in this program. Mound and Berkeley have met and considered this. Two questions were asked i n Washington: 1. Could Mound assist Berkeley i n any immediate fashion t o prepare the curium-2k for the Castle tests ? Berkeley determines that the present problem is well in hand from both facility and manpower considerations. Mound can probably be of some assistance by providing a calorimeter. These negotiations are underway. 2. Could Mound assume the responsibility f o r future curium-242 needs? Dr. Perlman stated that it was his opinion that the scheduling problems associated with the use of curium-242 precluded the use of any laboratory but Berkeley from such consideration. This was Largely dictated by the short supply- of americium-241. If a large stock of this material were available, another site for curium242 production would seem feasible. An examination of the process and facility indicated that the operation could be performed a t Mound should the occasion arise.A cost examination will not be made unless specif ic ally requested. It is also the opinion of the Mound staff that Dr. PerlmaBqs scheduling objection may not be completely valid. The half - life of curium-242 is 160 days a - ~ d a delay i n shot time of a few weeks should not have an appreciable effect.. The

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Mound staff has f o r years been successfully dealing with the scheduling problems associated with polonium-210 with a 138 day half-life. It is felt that this barrier is not insurmountable even with the present stock of americim-241and certainly not if the first two projects discussed above were carried t o completion t o provide an additional americlum stockpile. Copy 13. - Central Files Copy 14. - Central Files