AN FT-IR STUDY OF THE ATMOSPHERIC HYDROLYSIS OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE

The handling and processing of UF6 is accompanied by the potential for a reaction with water, usually as airborne moisture, and the subsequent risk of releasing airborne, particulate UO2F2 and gaseous hydrogen fluoride. We have studied this reaction under the simulated conditions of a "release" of UF6, whereby hot, pressurized UF6 gas suddenly escapes into ambient air. The "release" experiment simulates, on a small scale, the accidental mixing of UF6 gas with the atmosphere in the absence of wind currents. The data obtained with the use of FT-IR spectroscopy have provided information which permits a much better understanding of the behavior of the evolved hydrogen fluoride, the residual water vapor, and the airborne, particulate UO2F2 and of their relation to each other.