Abstract:
Acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) is a new salt-free complexing agent which may be used in the reprocessing of spent fuel. The concentration of AHA in HNO
3 was analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and that of acetic acid which was produced by the hydrolysis of AHA was analyzed by ion chromatography. The stability of AHA in HNO
3, the effect of temperature and mono-methylhydrazine (MMH) on the stability of AHA and concentration of acetic acid were studied. Results show that the stability of AHA decreases with the increase of time and HNO
3 concentration, the effect of temperature on the stability of AHA in HNO
3 is obvious, and the stability of AHA in HNO
3 can be enhanced by MMH. At certain condition, AHA is of good stability in HNO
3 and can meet the technological requirement of the reprocessing of spent fuel.