Process for decomposing nitrates in aqueous solution
Abstract
This invention is a process for decomposing ammonium nitrate and/or selected metal nitrates in an aqueous solution at an elevated temperature and pressure. Where the compound to be decomposed is a metal nitrate (e.g., a nuclear-fuel metal nitrate), a hydroxylated organic reducing agent therefor is provided in the solution. In accordance with the invention, an effective proportion of both nitromethane and nitric acid is incorporated in the solution to accelerate decomposition of the ammonium nitrate and/or selected metal nitrate. As a result, decomposition can be effected at significantly lower temperatures and pressures, permitting the use of system components composed of off-the-shelf materials, such as stainless steel, rather than more costly materials of construction. Preferably, the process is conducted on a continuous basis. Fluid can be automatically vented from the reaction zone as required to maintain the operating temperature at a moderate value--e.g., at a value in the range of from about 130.degree.-200.degree. C.
- Inventors:
-
- Knoxville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863669
- Patent Number(s):
- 4225455
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
C - CHEMISTRY C02 - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE C02F - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- process; decomposing; nitrates; aqueous; solution; ammonium; nitrate; selected; metal; elevated; temperature; pressure; compound; decomposed; nuclear-fuel; hydroxylated; organic; reducing; agent; provided; accordance; effective; proportion; nitromethane; nitric; acid; incorporated; accelerate; decomposition; result; effected; significantly; temperatures; pressures; permitting; components; composed; off-the-shelf; materials; stainless; steel; costly; construction; preferably; conducted; continuous; basis; fluid; automatically; vented; reaction; zone; required; maintain; operating; moderate; value-e; value; range; 130; degree; -200; selected metal; metal nitrates; ammonium nitrate; nitric acid; aqueous solution; elevated temperature; stainless steel; reaction zone; operating temperature; reducing agent; metal nitrate; continuous basis; components composed; /588/423/976/
Citation Formats
Haas, Paul A. Process for decomposing nitrates in aqueous solution. United States: N. p., 1980.
Web.
Haas, Paul A. Process for decomposing nitrates in aqueous solution. United States.
Haas, Paul A. Tue .
"Process for decomposing nitrates in aqueous solution". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863669.
@article{osti_863669,
title = {Process for decomposing nitrates in aqueous solution},
author = {Haas, Paul A},
abstractNote = {This invention is a process for decomposing ammonium nitrate and/or selected metal nitrates in an aqueous solution at an elevated temperature and pressure. Where the compound to be decomposed is a metal nitrate (e.g., a nuclear-fuel metal nitrate), a hydroxylated organic reducing agent therefor is provided in the solution. In accordance with the invention, an effective proportion of both nitromethane and nitric acid is incorporated in the solution to accelerate decomposition of the ammonium nitrate and/or selected metal nitrate. As a result, decomposition can be effected at significantly lower temperatures and pressures, permitting the use of system components composed of off-the-shelf materials, such as stainless steel, rather than more costly materials of construction. Preferably, the process is conducted on a continuous basis. Fluid can be automatically vented from the reaction zone as required to maintain the operating temperature at a moderate value--e.g., at a value in the range of from about 130.degree.-200.degree. C.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}