USE OF SULFAMIC ACID FOR DISSOLVING PLUTONIUM
Plutonium metal dissolves readily in suifamic acid and sulfamic-nitric acid mixtures. The use of 1.7 M sulfamic acid for Pu dissolution eliminates the need for platinumlined equipment which was required to contain HNO/sub 3/--HF mixtures formerly used. If solutions are not adequately cooled during dissolution, the reaction ceases abruptly as a result of decomposition of the sulfamate. With proper cooling to prevent decomposition of sulfamate (temperature maintained below 40 deg C), the reaction in 1.7 M NH/sub 2/SO/sub 3/ H proceeded to essentially complete exhaustion of the hydrogen ion, with very little sludge formation. Sludge, which js a mixture of plutonium oxide and plutonium sulfate, appears in larger quantities if HNO/sub 3/ is present. (H.G.G.)
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) & Co. Savannah River Lab., Aiken, S.C.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-015957
- OSTI ID:
- 4748097
- Report Number(s):
- TID-16387
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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