Study of the interactions of molten sodium nitrate-potassium nitrate 50 mol % mixture with water vapor and carbon dioxide in air. Final report, June 2, 1980-June 30, 1981

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5194427· OSTI ID:5194427

White, S. H.; Twardoch, U. M.

The interactions of aerial components such as water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen with the binary 50 mol % mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate have been studied in the temperature range 300 to 600/sup 0/C using electrochemical methods. In addition, the behavior of nitrite ions in this melt was investigated electrochemically. By judicious choice of techniques, in situ electroanalysis was possible and the necessary relevant data to accomplish this is presented, as well as insight into the corresponding electrochemical mechanisms associated with the electroactive species. The influence of each atmospheric component was examined separately. At temperatures above 300/sup 0/C, nitrite ions are found to accumulate due to thermal decomposition of the nitrate. Water is highly soluble in the salt mixture, but no hydrolytic reactions were observed. Two methods of in situ analysis for water are described. Pure carbon dioxide is found to attack the melt at all temperatures above 250/sup 0/C producing carbonate. (LEW)

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); EIC Labs., Inc., Newton, MA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5194427
• Report Number(s): SAND-80-8182; ON: DE82010033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
14 SOLAR ENERGY
25 ENERGY STORAGE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
NITRITES
POTASSIUM NITRATES
SODIUM NITRATES
WATER VAPOR
AIR
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
MIXTURES
MOLTEN SALTS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
REDUCTION
SOLUBILITY
VOLTAMETRY
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SALTS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
VAPORS
CSP
Concentrating Solar Power
400201* - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
142000 - Solar Energy- Heat Storage- (1980-)
250800 - Energy Storage- Chemical