RATE OF REACTION OF NITROUS ACID WITH HYDRAZINE AND WITH SULPHAMIC ACID - ITS APPLICATION TO NITROUS ACID CONTROL IN 2-PHASE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS

The rate of reaction of nitrous acid with excess sulphamic acid or hydrazine, has been measured in nitric acid media, by a continuous flow technique. The rates are approximately first order in nitrous acid and reactant and the dependence on hydrogen ion concentration is about first-order for sulphamic acid, and second-order for hydrazine. A new absorption band is found at 415 mμ in reacting solutions of nitrous and sulphamic acids. The rates obtained are used to estimate the minimum concentrations of these reagents required to control the oxidation of Pu(III) in uranium-plutonium separations in industrial processes. © 1968.