title: Plutonium and Americium Alpha Radiolysis of Nitric Acid Solutions.
abstract: The yield of HNO2, as a function of absorbed dose and HNO3concentration, from the α-radiolysis of aerated HNO3solutions containing plutonium or americium has been investigated. There are significant differences in the yields measured from solutions of the two different radionuclides. For 0.1 mol dm-3HNO3solutions, the radiolytic yield of HNO2produced by americium α-decay is below the detection limit, whereas for plutonium α-decay the yield is considerably greater than that found previously for γ-radiolysis. The differences between the solutions of the two radionuclides are a consequence of redox reactions involving plutonium and the products of aqueous HNO3radiolysis, in particular H2O2and HNO2and its precursors. This radiation chemical behavior is HNO3concentration dependent with the differences between plutonium and americium α-radiolysis decreasing with increasing HNO3concentration. This change may be interpreted as a combination of α-radiolysis direct effects and acidity influencing the plutonium oxidation state distribution, which in turn affects the radiation chemistry of the system.
authors.affiliation: The University of Manchester , Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, Cumbria, CA24 3HA, U.K.|The University of Manchester , School of Chemistry, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0596-0660
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.affiliation: National Nuclear Laboratory , Sellafield Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, U.K.
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gregson
authors.affiliation: The University of Manchester , Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, Cumbria, CA24 3HA, U.K.|National Nuclear Laboratory , Sellafield Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, U.K.|National Nuclear Laboratory , Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3DB, U.K.
authors.forename: Howard E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.affiliation: National Nuclear Laboratory , Sellafield Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, U.K.
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: The University of Manchester , Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, Cumbria, CA24 3HA, U.K.|National Nuclear Laboratory , Sellafield Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, U.K.
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: The University of Manchester , Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, Cumbria, CA24 3HA, U.K.|The University of Manchester , School of Chemistry, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
authors.forename: Simon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pimblott