Evaluation of crimp-seal-food-pack cans used for storage of plutonium dioxide and related materials

The termination of operations at many U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities was the result of many factors, including the end of the cold war, the termination of weapons manufacture, as well as significant safety issues found at the facilities. As a result of cessation of operations, the safe storage of nuclear material and nuclear residues from weapons manufacture and research projects became a topic of major importance. The residues are in many forms, including ash, nitrate solutions, oxides of various purity, salts, and glove-box waste. Much of this material has now been stored for more than 5 yr. This paper summarizes the results for the head-space gas sampling, TDMS, and the long term storage studies