Fission-Product Ruthenium Volatility at High Temperatures

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1959 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie50589a040· OSTI ID:4280891

Rohde, K. L.; May, C. E.; Newby, B. J.; Withers, B. D.

When a nitrate salt or acid solution containing fission-product ruthenium is decomposed thermally above l00 C, the ruthenium is oxidized in a local reaction, i.e., within the liquid or on the surface of the solid being formed, and appears as a volatile material, probably the tetroxide. Appreciable concentrations of nitrite ion added to the aqueous feed did not inhibit this oxidation, and it has been concluded that it would be difficult in practice to balance large quantities of fluidizing air or other oxidizing atmospheres with aqueous reducing agents. When the atmosphere in which the decomposition took place was reducing with respect to ruthenium tetroxide, i.e., in the presence of nitric oxide, the volatile tetroxide was not formed or the oxidation reversed so close to the solid that the ruthenium essentially remained on the alumina. Where the operating temperature was higher, 550 instead of 400 C, the ruthenium was found not so much on the solid as on the equipment in the high temperature region, suggesting that the ruthenium tetroxide did not decompose adjacent to the solid, where the temperature was limited by the evaporation of liquid, but rather on the heated walls of the equipment.

• Research Organization: Phillips Petroleum Co., Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-13-004496
• OSTI ID: 4280891
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 51; ISSN 0019-7866
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDS
AIR
ALUMINUM OXIDES
CHEMISTRY
CONCENTRATION
DECOMPOSITION
EVAPORATION
FISSION PRODUCTS
FLUIDIZATION
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INHIBITION
IONS
LIQUIDS
NITRATES
NITRITES
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDATION
PYROLYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
REDUCTION
RUTHENIUM COMPOUNDS
RUTHENIUM OXIDES
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
VOLATILITY
WATER