Destruction of Oxalate in HB-Line using Sodium Permanganate

Technical Report · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1135790· OSTI ID:1135790

Pierce, R. A. ^[1]; Nash, C. A. ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)

During HB-Line Pu-239 operations, plutonium (Pu) is precipitated as Pu(IV) oxalate [Pu(C2O₄)2] using oxalic acid (H₂C₂O₄). Following the removal of precipitate by filtration, the H₂C₂O₄ must be removed from solution before the filtrate can be discharged to H-Canyon under one criticality-control strategy. HB-Line uses sodium permanganate (NaMnO₄) solution to oxidize H₂C₂O₄ to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water. Excess NaMnO₄, which reacts to form manganese dioxide (MnO₂) solids, is converted to soluble manganese via a reaction with sodium nitrite (NaNO₂). HB-Line Engineering requested the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to verify the quantities and addition rates of NaMnO4 and NaNO₂ required to react excess oxalic acid and MnO₂ solids without over-pressurization of the reaction vessel.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1135790
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI--2014-00213
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English