硝酸根水溶液γ辐射分解模型建立及产氢/过氧化氢机制分析

Modeling Gamma Radiolysis of Nitrate Aqueous Solutions and Analyzing Mechanisms of Hydrogen and Hydrogen Peroxide Formation

  • 摘要: 高放废液贮存罐中高浓度硝酸根离子( \textNO_\text3^- )的辐射分解行为直接关系到贮存的化学安全。为系统研究 \textNO_\text3^- 浓度与吸收剂量对H2和H2O2行为的影响,本文建立了 \textNO_\text3^- 水溶液的辐射分解动力学模型,通过该模型深入揭示其内在作用机制。模拟结果表明, \textNO_\text3^- 浓度升高对H2的生成具有显著抑制作用。反应至100 h时,1 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- 体系中H2的累积浓度仅为0.1 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- 体系的28.2%;而在5 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- 体系中,H2累积产额进一步降至1 mol/L \textNO_\text3^- 体系的13.3%。与之相反,不同浓度 \textNO_\text3^- 辐射分解生成的H2O2随时间逐渐增加,并最终趋于动态平衡,其浓度约为1.3×10−4 mol/L。反应路径与速率分析进一步揭示, \textNO_\text3^- 主要通过高效捕获产氢关键前驱体 \texte_\textaq^- ,从而根本上抑制H2的生成;同时, \textNO_\text3^- 通过竞争消耗 \texte_\textaq^- 、·H及·OH,有效阻断了H2O2的主要消耗路径,最终导致H2O2净累积的增加。

     

    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 (H2), posing explosion hazards, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 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 H2 and H2O2, 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 H2 generation. After 100 h of reaction, the accumulated H2 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 H2 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 H2 formation pathways. In contrast, H2O2 concentrations produced from radiolysis exhibit a notably different trend. Across varying nitrate concentrations, H2O2 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 H2 generation is highly sensitive to nitrate concentration, H2O2 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 H2 formation. Second, \textNO_\text3^- and its radiolytic derivatives, such as ·NO2 and \textNO_\text2^- , participate in reactions that compete with H2O2 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 H2O2 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 H2O2. The findings offer theoretical support for safety assessments of HLLW storage, informing strategies for concentration control and corrosion management in nuclear waste repositories.

     

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