Process development testing in support of the plutonium immobilization program

As an integral part of the plutonium disposition program, formulation and process development is being performed for the immobilization of surplus plutonium in a titanate-based ceramic. Small-scale process prototypic and lab-scale functionally prototypic equipment have been tested to help define the immobilization process. The testing has included non-radioactive surrogates and actual actinide oxides contained in the immobilized form. A summary of the process development studies, as well as the formulation studies relevant to the process, will be provided.