Kinetics of thermal dehydration of zirconium and thorium hydroxide hydrogels

Kinetics of thermal dehydration of synthetic zirconium and thorium hydroxide hydrogels have been studied by thermogravimetric method. Dehydration followed first order kinetics upto a certain stage. The rate constants for the initial and final stages of dehydration were related to the water content of the gels. Textural change on heat treatment also contributes to it. (author)