High temperature adsorption process for solidification of plutonium and neptunium

The problem of plutonium and neptunium converting into solid form has been considered. It was recently been discovered that plutonium and neptunium absorbed well on inorganic porous matrices (silica gel) under definite conditions. In the work presented in this paper plutonium and neptunium sorption on silica gel followed by calcining saturated granules was experimentally investigated. Calcination may proceed at the different temperatures to give the solid dustless plutonium and neptunium compounds suitable both for controlled temporary storage (with possible return radionuclides in nuclear fuel cycle) and for long life disposal.