Gas-phase nitration of metallic uranium, zirconium, and aluminum

Resumo

Gas-phase conversion of metallic U, Zr, and Al into water-soluble compounds in the NO_x–H₂O (vapor)–air and HNO₃ (vapor)–air atmospheres was studied. Monolithic U_met and powdered Zr_met undergo gasphase conversion to form water-soluble compounds (nitrates, hydroxynitrates), whereas monolithic Zr_met remains unchanged. The degree of conversion of Al_met into water-soluble compounds in the examined nitrating media at 25–150°С does not exceed 10%. The principal possibility of separating U from Al and Zr by gasphase conversion of monolithic samples in a nitrating atmosphere was demonstrated.