Method for dissolving delta-phase plutonium
Abstract
A process for dissolving plutonium, and in particular, delta-phase plutonium. The process includes heating a mixture of nitric acid, hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) and potassium fluoride to a temperature between 40.degree. and 70.degree. C., then immersing the metal in the mixture. Preferably, the nitric acid has a concentration of not more than 2M, the HAN approximately 0.66M, and the potassium fluoride 0.1M. Additionally, a small amount of sulfamic acid, such as 0.1M can be added to assure stability of the HAN in the presence of nitric acid. The oxide layer that forms on plutonium metal may be removed with a non-oxidizing acid as a pre-treatment step.
- Inventors:
-
- 1600 Sherwood Pl., SE., Aiken, SC 29801
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868418
- Patent Number(s):
- 5135728
- Assignee:
- Karraker, David G. (1600 Sherwood Pl., SE., Aiken, SC 29801)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; dissolving; delta-phase; plutonium; process; particular; heating; mixture; nitric; acid; hydroxylammonium; nitrate; potassium; fluoride; temperature; 40; degree; 70; immersing; metal; preferably; concentration; 2m; approximately; 66m; 1m; additionally; amount; sulfamic; added; assure; stability; presence; oxide; layer; forms; removed; non-oxidizing; pre-treatment; step; sulfamic acid; dissolving plutonium; treatment step; ammonium nitrate; nitric acid; oxide layer; plutonium metal; oxidizing acid; hydroxylammonium nitrate; delta-phase plutonium; /423/
Citation Formats
Karraker, David G. Method for dissolving delta-phase plutonium. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Karraker, David G. Method for dissolving delta-phase plutonium. United States.
Karraker, David G. Wed .
"Method for dissolving delta-phase plutonium". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868418.
@article{osti_868418,
title = {Method for dissolving delta-phase plutonium},
author = {Karraker, David G},
abstractNote = {A process for dissolving plutonium, and in particular, delta-phase plutonium. The process includes heating a mixture of nitric acid, hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) and potassium fluoride to a temperature between 40.degree. and 70.degree. C., then immersing the metal in the mixture. Preferably, the nitric acid has a concentration of not more than 2M, the HAN approximately 0.66M, and the potassium fluoride 0.1M. Additionally, a small amount of sulfamic acid, such as 0.1M can be added to assure stability of the HAN in the presence of nitric acid. The oxide layer that forms on plutonium metal may be removed with a non-oxidizing acid as a pre-treatment step.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}
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