Abstract:
The radiolytic behavior of high-concentration nitrate ions ( \textNO_\text3^- ) in high-level liquid waste (HLLW) storage tanks is a critical issue in nuclear waste management, as it directly relates to chemical safety during long-term storage. Radiolysis of aqueous nitrate solutions can lead to the formation of gaseous hydrogen (H
2), posing explosion hazards, and hydrogen peroxide (H
2O
2), which may induce corrosion and affect waste form stability. To systematically investigate the influence of nitrate concentration and absorbed radiation dose on the formation and evolution of H
2 and H
2O
2, a comprehensive kinetic model for the radiolysis of nitrate-containing aqueous systems was developed in this study. The model integrates primary radiolytic yields and a detailed network of radical and molecular reactions, enabling a mechanistic understanding of key species’ behaviors under continuous irradiation conditions. Simulation results indicate that increasing nitrate concentration exerts a strong inhibitory effect on H
2 generation. After 100 h of reaction, the accumulated H
2 concentration in the 1 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- system is only 28.2% of that observed in the 0.1 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- system. Moreover, in the 5 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- system, the H
2 yield further decreases to just 13.3% of that in the 1 mol/L system. This concentration-dependent suppression is attributed primarily to the efficient scavenging of the hydrated electron ( \texte_\textaq^- ) by \textNO_\text3^- , which serves as a key precursor in H
2 formation pathways. In contrast, H
2O
2 concentrations produced from radiolysis exhibit a notably different trend. Across varying nitrate concentrations, H
2O
2 accumulates gradually over time, eventually reaching a dynamic equilibrium at approximately 1.3×10
−4 mol/L, irrespective of the initial \textNO_\text3^- content within the studied range. This suggests that while H
2 generation is highly sensitive to nitrate concentration, H
2O
2 accumulation is governed by a balance between its production and consumption, largely independent of nitrate concentration under these conditions. Further analysis of reaction pathways and rate constants reveals the dual role of \textNO_\text3^- in radiolysis. First, \textNO_\text3^- effectively captures \texte_\textaq^- , thereby inhibiting pathways leading to H
2 formation. Second, \textNO_\text3^- and its radiolytic derivatives, such as ·NO
2 and \textNO_\text2^- , participate in reactions that compete with H
2O
2 for consumption by key radicals, including \texte_\textaq^- , hydrogen atoms (·H), and hydroxyl radicals (·OH). By intercepting these species, \textNO_\text3^- and its reaction network suppress the decomposition of H
2O
2 and promote its net accumulation. This study provides mechanistic insights into the radiolytic behavior of nitrate-rich wastes, highlighting that high nitrate levels can significantly mitigate hydrogen explosion risks while potentially sustaining steady-state concentrations of oxidizing species like H
2O
2. The findings offer theoretical support for safety assessments of HLLW storage, informing strategies for concentration control and corrosion management in nuclear waste repositories.