Metal alloy and metal alloy storage product for storing fast neutron emitters

Abstract

A liquid reactant metal alloy includes at least one chemically active metal for reacting with non-radioactive material in a mixed waste stream being treated. The reactant alloy also includes at least one radiation absorbing metal. Radioactive isotopes in the waste stream, including any fast neutron emitting isotopes alloy with, or disperse in, the chemically active metal and the radiation absorbing metals are able to absorb a significant portion of the radioactive emissions associated with the isotopes. A transmutation target fraction is included for absorbing fast neutrons and a transmutation emission absorbing fraction is provided for absorbing emissions that result from the absorption of a fast neutron by the transmutation target fraction. Non-radioactive constituents in the waste material are broken down into harmless and useful constituents, leaving the alloyed radioactive isotopes in the liquid reactant alloy. The reactant alloy may then be cooled to form one or more ingots in which the radioactive isotopes are effectively isolated and surrounded by the radiation absorbing metals. These ingots comprise the storage products for the radioactive isotopes.

1 . A storage product for storing a fast neutron emitting isotope, the storage product including: 
 (a) a metal alloy including a chemically active metal fraction in an amount effective for chemically reducing organic feed materials, the metal alloy also encompassing a quantity of a fast neutron emitting isotope;    (b) a transmutation target fraction forming part of the metal alloy, the transmutation target fraction made up of a transmutation target material for absorbing fast neutrons emitted by the fast neutron emitting isotope;    (c) a transmutation emission absorbing fraction forming part of the metal alloy, the transmutation emission absorbing fraction made up of a transmutation emission absorbing material for absorbing emissions resulting from the absorption of a respective fast neutron by the transmutation target material; and    (d) wherein the metal alloy is solidified from a molten state to form a storage ingot with the fast neutron emitting isotope, the chemically active metal fraction, the transmutation target fraction, and the transmutation emission absorbing fraction being substantially evenly distributed within the ingot.    
   
   
       2 . The storage product of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) the transmutation target fraction includes no less than approximately three hundred and sixty-five (365) atoms of transmutation target material for each atom of the fast neutron emitting isotope in the storage product; and    (b) the transmutation emission absorbing fraction includes no less than approximately three hundred and sixty-five (365) atoms of transmutation emission absorbing material for each atom of the fast neutron emitting isotope in the storage product.    
   
   
       3 . The storage product of  claim 1  wherein the transmutation target material is made up of metals selected from the group consisting of boron, beryllium, lithium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and cadmium.  
   
   
       4 . The storage product of  claim 1  wherein the transmutation emission absorbing fraction is made up of metals selected from the group consisting of boron, cadmium, and gold.  
   
   
       5 . The storage product of  claim 1  further including a radioactive isotope that does not emit fast neutrons, and for each type of expected radioactive emission associated with the radioactive isotope in the storage product, at least one corresponding radiation absorbing metal, each corresponding radiation absorbing metal being capable of absorbing the respective type of expected radioactive emission.  
   
   
       6 . A metal alloy solidified from a molten state to form an ingot which provides a storage product for a storing a fast neutron emitting isotope, the metal alloy including: 
 (a) a chemically active metal fraction in an amount effective for chemically reducing organic feed materials;    (b) a transmutation target fraction, the transmutation target fraction made up of a transmutation target material for absorbing fast neutrons emitted by the fast neutron emitting isotope; and    (c) a transmutation emission absorbing fraction, the transmutation emission absorbing fraction made up of a transmutation emission absorbing material for absorbing emissions resulting from the absorption of a respective fast neutron by the transmutation target material, the transmutation emission absorbing fraction being substantially evenly distributed within the ingot with the fast neutron emitting isotope, the chemically active metal fraction, and the transmutation target fraction.    
   
   
       7 . The metal alloy of  claim 6  wherein: 
 (a) the transmutation target fraction includes no less than approximately three hundred and sixty-five (365) atoms of transmutation target material for each atom of the fast neutron emitting isotope in the storage product; and    (b) the transmutation emission absorbing fraction includes no less than approximately three hundred and sixty-five (365) atoms of transmutation emission absorbing material for each atom of the fast neutron emitting isotope in the storage product.    
   
   
       8 . The metal alloy of  claim 6  wherein the transmutation target material is made up of metals selected from the group consisting of boron, beryllium, lithium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and cadmium.  
   
   
       9 . The metal alloy of  claim 6  wherein the transmutation emission absorbing fraction is made up of metals selected from the group consisting of boron, cadmium, and gold.  
   
   
       10 . The metal alloy of  claim 6  wherein the ingot provides a storage product for storing a radioactive isotope that does not emit fast neutrons and further including for each type of expected radioactive emission associated with the radioactive isotope in the storage product, at least one corresponding radiation absorbing metal, each corresponding radiation absorbing metal being capable of absorbing the respective type of expected radioactive emission.  
   
   
       11 . A storage product for storing a fast neutron emitting isotope, the storage product including: 
 (a) 40% or more of a chemically active fraction;    (b) the fast neutron emitting isotope;    (c) a transmutation target fraction made up of a transmutation target material for absorbing fast neutrons emitted by the fast neutron emitting isotope; and    (d) a transmutation emission absorbing fraction made up of a transmutation emission absorbing material for absorbing emissions resulting from the absorption of a respective fast neutron by the transmutation target material, the transmutation emission absorbing material being alloyed with and substantially evenly distributed with the fast neutron emitting isotope, the chemically active fraction, and the transmutation target fraction.    
   
   
       12 . The storage product of  claim 11  wherein: 
 (a) the transmutation target fraction includes no less than approximately three hundred and sixty-five (365) atoms of transmutation target material for each atom of the fast neutron emitting isotope in the storage product; and    (b) the transmutation emission absorbing fraction includes no less than approximately three hundred and sixty-five (365) atoms of transmutation emission absorbing material for each atom of the fast neutron emitting isotope in the storage product.    
   
   
       13 . The storage product of  claim 11  wherein the transmutation target material is made up of metals selected from the group consisting of boron, beryllium, lithium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and cadmium.  
   
   
       14 . The storage product of  claim 1   1  wherein the transmutation emission absorbing fraction is made up of metals selected from the group consisting of boron, cadmium, and gold.  
   
   
       15 . The storage product of  claim 1   1  further including a radioactive isotope that does not emit fast neutrons, and for each type of expected radioactive emission associated with the radioactive isotope in the storage product, at least one corresponding radiation absorbing metal, each corresponding radiation absorbing metal being capable of absorbing the respective type of expected radioactive emission.