Radiolytically Generated Hydrogen and Oxygen from Plutonium Nitrate Solutions

摘要

Hydrogen and oxygen gases radiolytically generated in a nitrate system by α-radiation were investigated. The following points were elucidated :(1) Plutonium (IV) is involved in the G-value for hydrogen generation. The difference in G-values in 244Cm-HNO3 solution and Pu(IV)-HNO3 solution can be explained by the presence of Pu.(2) No significant effect of the difference of oxidation states, Pu(IV)/Pu(VI), resulting from heating solution on the hydrogen generation was observed.(3) Radiolytic evolution of hydrogen in plutonium nitrate solutions depends upon a height of the solution in a vessel, although this dependence is apparently less than that observed under γ-radiation.(4) The effect of the solution height would be explained by a reaction between OH and H2 because the effect can be approximately described by concentrations of undissociated HNO3 and Pu(IV), which are thought to be primary scavengers of OH radicals.(5) The G-value for oxygen generation in plutonium nitrate solutions was roughly in accord with that observed in the 244Cm/210Po-HNO3 system.