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Title: The relative viscosity of NaNO3 and NaNO2 aqueous solutions

Journal Article · · Journal of Molecular Liquids
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC, Richland, WA (United States)
  2. United States Dept. of Energy, Richland, WA (United States)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

In aqueous solution, both nitrate and nitrite are planar, monovalent, and have the same elements but different sizes and charge densities. Comparing the viscosity of NaNO2 and NaNO3 aqueous solutions provides an opportunity to determine the relative importance of anion size versus strength of anion interaction with water. The viscosity of aqueous NaNO2 and NaNO3 were measured over a temperature and concentration range relevant to nuclear waste processing. The viscosity of NaNO2 solutions was consistently larger than NaNO3 under all conditions, even though nitrate is larger than nitrite. This was interpreted in terms of quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics calculations that indicate that nitrite forms more and stronger hydrogen bonds with water per oxygen atom than nitrate. Furthermore, these hydrogen bonds inhibit rotational motion required for fluid flow, thus increasing the nitrite solution viscosity relative to that of an equivalent nitrate solution.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1437023
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-130851; PII: S0167732218305993
Journal Information:
Journal of Molecular Liquids, Vol. 264; ISSN 0167-7322
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 8 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science