Effect of nitrous acid on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic products of N, N-dimethylhydroxylamine

N, N-dimethylhydroxylamine (DMHA) is a new salt-free reductant used in spent fuel reprocessing, this paper reports the effect of HNO₂ on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic products of DMHA in nitric acid medium. DMHA concentration in irradiated samples decreases with the increasing dose and initial HNO₂ concentration, and the radiolytic rate of DMHA is lower than 21% at 10 kGy supposed to be the maximum dose absorbed by the reagent during the U/Pu separation and the Pu purification. The main radiolytic products are H₂, CH₃NHOH, HCHO, and HCOOH, and their quantity increases with the dose and initial HNO₂ concentration. (author)