(559b) The Reaction Rate of Uranium-Aluminum Alloys in Boiling Caustic Solutions

The Reaction Rate of Uranium-Aluminum Alloys in Boiling Caustic Solutions^*

Huxtable, W. P. and Swientoniewski, M.D., Bechtel National Inc.

Abstract

This effort correlates historical data on dissolution rates of aluminum and U-Al alloys in boiling caustic (NaOH) solutions. To support a dissolution reactor design, a new reaction rate model is proposed to correlate and compare dissolution rate data for aluminum and uranium-aluminum (U-Al) alloys in caustic. Second, bounding dissolution and hydrogen production rate estimates are proposed for aluminum and U-Al alloys in boiling 6 M caustic solution. Third, as part of these rate estimates in 6 M caustic, an inconsistency in aluminum reaction rates by Wymer et al. is addressed. These dissolutions are first-order reactions as a function of dissolvent caustic concentration and are correlated for various Al and U-Al alloy compositions and the presence of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) in the dissolvent. Bounding dissolution and hydrogen production rates are predicted based on a maximum 6 M NaOH concentration expected in the dissolvent.

^*This document has been authored by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, under Contract DE NA0001942 with the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration, or a subcontractor thereof. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the document for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a nonexclusive, paid up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this document, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes.