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Effect of monomethylhydrazine on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic by-products of DMHA in nitric acid

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Abstract

N,N-dimethylhydroxylamine (DMHA) is an effective novel salt-free reductant used in spent fuel reprocessing. This paper reports the effect of monomethylhydrazine (MMH) on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic by-products of DMHA in HNO3. The presence of MMH improves the stability of DMHA against radiation significantly, the main radiolytic by-products are N-methylhydroxylamine, HCHO, HCOOH and HNO2, which concentration increases with the dose. The concentration of N-methylhydroxylamine increases with the MMH concentration, but that of HCHO, HCOOH and HNO2 decreases with increasing MMH concentration. These results will provide considerable reference for the application of DMHA in the PUREX process.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express our sincere acknowledgement for the financial assistance of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20771074).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China

    S. Y. Wang, J. H. Wang, Ch. Li, M. H. Wu & G. Xu

  2. Radiochemistry Department, China Institute of Atomic Energy, P.O. Box 275, Beijing, 102413, China

    W. F. Zheng & H. He

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  1. S. Y. Wang
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  2. J. H. Wang
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  3. Ch. Li
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  4. M. H. Wu
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  6. W. F. Zheng
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  7. H. He
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Correspondence to J. H. Wang.

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Wang, S.Y., Wang, J.H., Li, C. et al. Effect of monomethylhydrazine on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic by-products of DMHA in nitric acid. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 259–267 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07489-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07489-8

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