Effects of metal ion impurities on PuO/sub 2/ dissolution in nitric--hydrofluoric acid solution

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7213286

Tallent, O K; Mailen, J C

The effects of Cu/sup 2 +/, Hg/sup 2 +/, Zn/sup 2 +/, La/sup 3 +/, Ce/sup 3 +/, Al/sup 3 +/, Pu/sup 4 +/, Th/sup 4 +/, and Zr/sup 4 +/ metal ion impurities on PuO/sub 2/ dissolution in 8.0M HNO/sub 3/--0.1M HF solution at 100/sup 0/C have been investigated. Results based on 1.0 h of dissolution time show that such metal ions as Al/sup 3 +/, Pu/sup 4 +/, Th/sup 4 +/, and Zr/sup 4 +/, which form strong fluoride complexes, greatly decrease the dissolution rate, whereas such metal ions as Cu/sup 2 +/, Hg/sup 2 +/, Zn/sup 2 +/, La/sup 3 +/, and Ce/sup 3 +/, which form relatively weak fluoride complexes, have little or no effect. Fluoride ion activities in the dissolvents were calculated based on an empirical equation, K/sub 1/a/sub F/ + a/sub f/ -- 0.10 ..gamma../sub s/ = 0, where K/sub 1/, a/sub F/, and ..gamma../sub s/ denote first metal ion fluoride complex stability constant, fluoride ion activity, and stoichiometric fluoride ion activity coefficient, respectively. The PuO/sub 2/ dissolution rates were found to increase linearly with increase in the calculated fluoride ion activities.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• OSTI ID: 7213286
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 34:3; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CATIONS
CERIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
DISSOLUTION
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMPURITIES
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
NITRIC ACID
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS