Radiation chemistry of synthetic waste
The yield of H{sub 2} from radiolysis of aqueous solutions is substantially reduced by the presence of nitrate and nitrite in the waste solutions. Nitrate is more efficient in scavenging the precursors to H{sub 2} than is nitrite, therefore, the latter should be maintained at higher levels if minimization of radiolytic gas production is required. Nitrate is the major scavenger for e{sub aq}{sup {minus}} and nitrite is the major scavenger for H atoms. At the concentration levels of the waste solutions some fraction of the radiation energy will be absorbed directly by the solutes, primarily the nitrate/nitrite components. Organic additive will increase the generation of H{sub 2} and mechanistic information is available to allow predictive modeling of trends in the rate of the generation. Physical parameters such as temperature, viscosity, and pressure will not significantly affect the gas generation relative to its generation under normal conditions. Radiolytic generation of N{sub 2}O is very inefficient in the absence of organic solutes. No mechanistic information is available on its generation in the presence of organic additives. At the concentration levels of the inorganic salts in the waste solutions, it will be very difficult to find a chemical additive that could efficiently reduce the yield of the generated H{sub 2}, except, perhaps, increasing the concentration of the nitrite/nitrate components.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10114257
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-91/40; ON: DE92006763
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Nov 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
RADIOLYSIS
HYDROGEN
PRODUCTION
NITROUS OXIDE
NITRATES
NITRITES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
SCAVENGING
400600
052002
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE