THE INTERACTIONS OF HYDRAZINE, FERROUS SULFAMATE, SODIUM NITRITE, AND NITRIC ACID IN NUCLEAR FUEL PROCESSING SOLUTIONS

摘要

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 proces¬sing can proceed. The interactions of these four chemicals have been studied under a wide variety of conditions using a 2p factorial experimental design to determine relative reaction rates for desired reactions and side reactions. Evidence for a hydrazine-stabilized, sulfamic acid — nitrous acid interme¬diate was obtained;this intermediate can hydrolyze to ammonia or decompose to nitrogen. The oxidation of Fe2+ by NO2- was shown to proceed at about the same rate as the scavenging of NO2- by sulfamic acid. Various side reactions are discussed.