ANSI N15.4

Description / Abstract: This standard establishes requirements for control of nuclear material in conversion facilities which are facilities or parts of facilities in which a conversion process is operated. A conversion. process is ~ny process' in which a starting material is processed chemically to produce a useable product. Processes which do not involve a chemical change normally would not constitute conversion processes. Further, processes which are carried out primarily as a means of purification, and which incidentally involve chemical changes, normally would be classed as fuel reprocessing or scrap reprocessing, not conversion. This specifically applies to direct fluorination of scrap, which is defined as scrap reprocessing and not conversion. It is recognized that two or more convertible materials may be combined in a conversion process (for example, UO₂ P_UO₂). It is also recognized that a diluent, such as Z_rO₂, may be added during the co.nversion process. The addition of diluents bydry blending prior to fabrication, however, is conside/y.ed to be a fabrication operation. The basic materials to be converted include "yellow cake" or similar crude uranium compounds, uranium or plutonium oxides or nitrate, or uranium hexafluoride. The products of a conversion process include uranium hexafluoride, uranium or plutonium metal, uranium or plutonium oxides (chiefly UO₂ or PUO₂ or mixtures of these), or uranium or plutonium carbides, nitrides, etc.