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Plutonium Release Incident at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Description: A nonnuclear explosion involving an evaporator occurred in a shielded cell in the Radiochemical Processing Pilot plant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Plutonium released from the processing cell contaminated areas in the pilot plant building and nearby streets and building surfaces. The explosion is considered the result of rapid reaction of nitrated organic compounds formed by the inadvertent nitration of about 14 liters of a proprietary decontaminating reagent.
Date: January 10, 1961
Creator: King, L. J. & Bresee. J. C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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