Radiolytic and thermal stability of selected plutonium salts containing nitrate groups. [Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/. XH/sub 2/O; K/sub 2/Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 6/; (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 6/]

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7361588· OSTI ID:7361588

Bryan, G. H.

(Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ . XH/sub 2/O, K/sub 2/Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 6/, and (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 6/) were studied to evaluate their ability to serve as shipping forms that meet criteria. The radiolytic gas evolution study eliminated (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 6/ from further consideration. None of the compounds produced H/sub 2/ or O/sub 2/ in sufficient quantity to produce a flammable mixture, except Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ . XH/sub 2/O which produced O/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/ in a ratio that is above explosive limits after long storage time. The ammonium salt decomposition appears to be about the same as that observed upon heating of NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ to produce N/sub 2/, H/sub 2/O, and nitrous oxides. Plutonium nitrate contains hydration water. This water is of some concern due to the production of hydrogen by alpha-radiolysis. Two waters of hydration appear to be the lower limit to which Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ . XH/sub 2/O may be taken before decomposition of the solid begins. TGA results indicate the simple nitrate (Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ . XH/sub 2/O) is somewhat less thermally stable than either the ammonium or potassium hexanitrato plutonate which detracts somewhat from its suitability as a shipping form. Maintaining large quantities of this compound with a high /sup 238/Pu content (less than 1 percent /sup 238/Pu) may require specially designed and larger containers to prevent thermal degradation and gas pressure buildup problems. The informaion was presented to plutonium processors; the final consensus of this group was that in spite of some thermal instability of Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ . XH/sub 2/O at fairly low temperatures, it was preferable to K/sub 2/Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 6/ due to the additional waste disposal problems the potassium would present. (Pu(NO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ . XH/sub 2/O also has several other advantages. A possible problem that could arise due to the variable weight of plutonium nitrate could be in plutonium accountability, but this would be prevented if the plutonium content of the solution prior to evaporation to the solid is known. (DLC)

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: E(45-1)-1830
• OSTI ID: 7361588
• Report Number(s): BNWL-SA-5814
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM NITRATES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COHERENT SCATTERING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DEGASSING
DIFFRACTION
ELEMENTS
GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
HYDRATES
METALS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM NITRATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM NITRATES
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLYSIS
SCATTERING
SOLUBILITY
STABILITY
THERMAL ANALYSIS
THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
TRANSPORT
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION