The dissolution rate and solubility of sodium bismuthate has been investigated as a function of temperature and nitric acid concentration in the presence of metal ions relevant to the used nuclear fuel recycle. Sodium bismuthate has established itself as the benchmark chemical oxidant (+2.03 V vs SHE) to produce Am(VI), as AmO22+, in aqueous nitric acid system from 4–8 M HNO3. While near quantitative conversion to Am(VI) has been widely observed, the reaction suffers from slow kinetics, believed to stem from the limited solubility of sodium bismuthate in these systems. A fundamental knowledge of the dissolution kinetics and the behavior of the bismuthate species in solution is lacking. Initial results suggest an increased dissolution rate with increases in both temperature and acidity, along with a salt-assisted rate increase. The stability of the bismuthate ion, on the other hand, seems to decrease with increases in both temperature and acidity. Investigations into the stability of the bismuthate ion in the presence of fission product metals in solution were also carried out. Herein, we will present an overview of the dissolution and stabilities and discuss the results in regards to used nuclear fuel recycling.

Dissolution and stability of the bismuthate species in the presence of fission products

2019 Spring National Meeting

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