Separation by vapour phase transport of stainless steel constituents

A process for separating the constituents of radioactive steels is proposed for conditioning materials originating in the dismantling of reactor pressure vessels. This process is based on the transport, by a vapour phase made of iodides in a thermal gradient inside a gastight device, or the constituent elements of the steels. Tests were carried out at a 2g scale in quartz ampoules to determine the effectiveness of the separation as a function of temperature ranges, pressure and temperature gradient. From the results it is deduced that cobalt can be separated from the other elements after about 150 elementary transports with a productivity of about 1 kg of steel treated by square meter and by day. The principle of this process is also applicable to other metallic or even non metallic wastes. (author)