Study of the oxidation-reduction kinetics involved in the Np(V) + Fe(II) in equilibrium Np(IV) + Fe(III) system in nitric acid solutions

Ferrous nitrate-hydrazine is one of the more attractive alternate reactants to the currently used reagent, ferrous sulfamate, for partitioning plutonium from neptunium and uranium. An understanding of the kinetics of the reduction of Np(VI) to Np(IV) by ferrous nitrate-hydrazine is needed before a satisfactory evaluation of the feasibility of this reductant in actinide element separations can be made. The purpose of this work was to study the kinetics and mechanisms of the reduction of Np(V) by Fe(II) and the oxidation of Np(IV) by Fe(III) in 1-2 M nitric acid solutions. The acid concentration range was chosen to include that typically used in the separation of plutonium from neptunium and uranium by solvent extraction with tributylphosphate. The forward and reverse rate constants, hydrogen ion dependence, temperature dependence, ionic strength effects and nitrate ion influence were determined. The proposed reaction mechanisms involve protonation of the NpO2+ ions and hydroxyoxygenation of Np4+ ions. (LK)