H₂ and CO Produced by Radiolysis of HNO₃ FHA Solution

Formohydroxamic acid (FHA) is a new salt-free complexant which may be used in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. This paper reports on the study of H₂ and CO produced by radiolysis of HNO₃ 0.2 mol/L FHA. These analyses were performed by gas chromatography in which a packed 5 molsieves column and a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) were used. Argon was used as a carrier gas in the analysis of H₂, the temperature of column and TCD was 85 ℃ and 120 ℃ respectively; H₂ was used as a carrier gas in the analysis of CO, the temperature of column and TCD were 50 ℃ and 80 ℃ respectively. The results show that the volume fraction of H₂ increases with the dose, but decreases with the concentration of nitric acid. CO is only produced at high dose, and the volume fraction of CO is much lower than that of H₂. The volume fraction of CO increases with the dose. When the concentration of nitric acid is not more than 0.5 mol/L, the volume fraction of CO is lower than that produced by 0.2 mol/L FHA aqueous solution; when the concentration of nitric acid is no less than 1.0 mol/L, the volume fraction of CO is higher than that produced by 0.2 mol/L FHA aqueous solution, and the volume fraction of CO increases with the concentration of nitric acid.