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Interactions of hydrazine, ferrous sulfamate, sodium nitrite, and nitric acid in nuclear fuel processing solutions

Journal Article · · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6567586

Hydrazine and ferrous sulfamate are used as reductants in a variety of nuclear fuel processing solutions. An oxidant, normally sodium nitrite, must frequently be added to these nitric acid solutions before additional processing can proceed. The interactions of these four chemicals have been studied under a wide variety of conditions using a 2/sup P/ factorial experimental design. It was determined that the desired oxidations of Fe/sup 2 +/, NH/sub 2/NH/sup +//sub 3/, and NH/sub 2/SO/sub 3/H to Fe/sup 3 +/ and N/sub 2/ occur at ambient temperatures with nitric acid concentrations less than or equal to 3M without complicating side reactions. The rate of oxidation of Fe/sup 2 +/ by nitrous acid proceeds at about the same rate as the scavenging of nitrous acid by sulfamic acid. At nitric acid concentrations >3M and at elevated temperatures, hydrolysis of sulfamic acid to NH/sub 4/HSO/sub 4/ and decomposition of both hydrazine and nitrous acid become important side reactions.

Research Organization:
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Aiken, SC
OSTI ID:
6567586
Journal Information:
Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 40:2; ISSN NUTYB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English