Dissolution of plutonium metal in sulfamic acid at elevated temperatures
The kinetics of the dissolution of plutonium metal in sulfamic acid at varying temperatures was determined. Hydrogen off-gas rates and plutonium concentrations were determined as functions of time for different dissolving conditions. Nominal 2.2 kg Pu buttons (surface area, 171 cm/sup 2/) should yield solutions containing 190 to 260 g Pu/L and 3.3M sulfamate ion after a one-hour dissolving time at 70/sup 0/C. Hydrogen off-gas rates were calculated to vary from a high of 2.7L of gaseous hydrogen per minute (STP) at the beginning of a dissolving cycle to 50 mL of hydrogen gas per minute at the end of a one-hour dissolving time. Sludge formation, which is a problem at ambient temperatures, does not occur at dissolving temperatures of 60 to 80/sup 0/C. Dissolution curves suggest that the mechanism of dissolution changes at about 50 to 55/sup 0/C. Below this temperature, a surface coating of plutonium hydride may form; above this temperature, plutonium metal appears to be converted directly to Pu/sup 3 +/. 13 figures, 1 table.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-09-0001
- OSTI ID:
- 6375065
- Report Number(s):
- DP-1515
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACTINIDES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DATA
DATA FORMS
DEGASSING
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
ISOLATED VALUES
KINETICS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METALS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PLUTONIUM
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTION KINETICS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
SULFAMIC ACID
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS