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

Conference · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7311615

Gray, L W

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 to determine relative reaction rates for desired reactions and side reactions. Evidence for a hydrazine-stabilized, sulfamic acid--nitrous acid intermediate was obtained; this intermediate can hydrolyze to ammonia or decompose to nitrogen. The oxidation of Fe/sup 2 +/ by NO/sub 2//sup -/ was shown to proceed at about the same rate as the scavenging of NO/sub 2//sup -/ by sulfamic acid. Various side reactions are discussed.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: E(07-2)-1
• OSTI ID: 7311615
• Report Number(s): DPSPU-76-30-13; CONF-770301-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
HYDRAZINE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
NITRIC ACID
NITRITES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SPENT FUELS
SULFAMIC ACID
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS