HEALTH PHYSICS ASPECTS OF HANDLING URANIUM-233 FEED MATERIAL

The processes of separation purification and fabrication of feed materials containing U/sup 232/, U/sup 233/, U/sup 234/, U/sup 23 and U/sup 238/ require much closer health physics supervision than do the enriched or naturally occurring mixtures of U/sup 234/, U/sup 235/, and U/sup 238/ found in natural uranium. The primary problem is the control of alpha and gamma radiation. The isotope U/sup 233/ presess only an alpha control problem; however, the daughters of U/sup 232/constitute a gamma problem. Because of the high specific activity of these materials, all chemical purification metallic casting, and fabrication is done in dry boxes. A discussion of the maximum permissible body burden and the maximum permissible air concentration is presented, including protective measures against exposure. Los Alamos experience with gamma radiation in chemical purification and mnetal fabrication is summarized. (J.R.D.)