Planning For Receipt Of Mark-18a Recovered Nuclear Material At Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Mark-18A high-burnup targets produced at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) contain rare isotopes that are of use for heavy isotope production (Cm) and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (Pu-242 and Pu-244). These targets are to be processed at SRNL to extract the valuable material which is then to be shipped to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The material to be shipped to ORNL is expected to be separated plutonium oxide and a mixture of curium, americium, and lanthanides in oxide form. A Type A shipping package has been designed, fabricated, and certified to transport the americium/curium/lanthanide oxide product in special form capsules. The plutonium stream will be shipped to ORNL in a Model 9977 Type B transport cask. This paper discusses the preparations underway at ORNL to receive the packages and transfer the material into hot cell processing and storage facilities for subsequent use for heavy isotope production and R&D applications.