Assessment of the Explosiveness of Dried Residues from Nitric Acid Solutions Containing Organic Reductants for Reprocessing of (U, Pu)N Spent Nuclear Fuel

The thermal decomposition of dried residues from nitric acid solutions containing reductants (carbohydrazide and diformylhydrazine) was studied. The dried residues were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. It is shown that the dried residues pose a potential hazard due to exothermic decomposition and gas evolution. Recommendations for ensuring fire and explosion safety when using solutions of metal nitrate solutions in nitric acid with reductants are proposed.