AUGUST 2, 2015
METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS -
The Metropolis, IL Honeywell plant is not producing product right now as investigators look into why a chemical compound leaked out Saturday afternoon.
Honeywell spokesperson Peter Dalpe says they're working to find out how much UF6 or uranium hexafluoride was released. A release of this same chemical happened back in October of 2014.
Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical compound consisting of one atom of uranium combined with six atoms of fluorine. It is the chemical form of uranium that is used during the uranium enrichment process.
“I guess its 3000 ft. away from our house, and if I can't smell anything yet I'm going to get as far away from it as I can,” Elliot said.
It’s that close distance from the Honeywell Plant that made Jim Elliot leave with his daughter Abigail and two dogs instead of listening to an automated call.
“We were told to turn off the air conditioner, close all the windows, and stay in the house,” Elliot said.
Crews spent two hours cleaning up a UF6 chemical leak at the plant reported around 6 Saturday night.
"This is two in 11 years,” Elliot said.
The Environmental Management website says UF6 or uranium hexafluoride is not really dangerous unless it’s ingested. However, when it reacts with water vapor it breaks down into UO2F2 and hydrogen fluoride. UO2F2 is heavier than air and falls to the ground. HF is a gas that rises and is a potentially hazardous substance when inhaled in large amounts.
Dalpe says this reaction happens because of the water present in the air, not because of the water Honeywell sprays on the material. He says the most effective way to weaken an HF cloud is to spray it with water knocking the cloud down and diluting the HF until you end up with small amounts of fluoride mixed with water.
Dalpe says there is no evidence the leak impacted anybody and despite the Plant's proximity, Elliott says he feels safe. Elliot appreciates the call system, but next time would like a more resounding alert.
“If a siren were to sound we wound know what that meant. If we were outside we would not have heard the phone, which in the summertime most people are going to be outside,” Elliot said.
Giving them peace of mind that they'll know, if there's ever an emergency in the future.
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Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6)
Physical and chemical properties of UF6, and its use in uranium processing.
Uranium Hexafluoride and Its Properties
Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical compound consisting of one atom of uranium combined with six atoms of fluorine. It is the chemical form of uranium that is used during the uranium enrichment process. Within a reasonable range of temperature and pressure, it can be a solid, liquid, or gas. Solid UF6 is a white, dense, crystalline material that resembles rock salt.
UF6 crystals in a glass vial.
UF6 and Uranium Processing
The gaseous diffusion process used to enrich uranium requires uranium in the form of UF6. In the first step of UF6 production, uranium ore is mined and sent to a mill where uranium oxide (often called "yellowcake") is produced. The uranium oxide is then sent to a UF6 production facility. At the production facility, the uranium oxide is combined with anhydrous HF and fluorine gas in a series of chemical reactions to form the chemical compound UF6. The product UF6 is placed into steel cylinders and shipped as a solid to a gaseous diffusion plant for enrichment.
Uranium - From Ore to Reactor Fuel
For more information on uranium processing, see the Depleted UF6 Production and Handling slide show and Uranium Enrichment.
Properties of UF6
UF6 Health Effects