Reduction of Neptunium(VI) by Butyraldehyde Isomers in Nitric Acid Solution

The kinetics of the reaction between Np(VI) and butyraldehyde isomers in nitric acid solution was studied to find flow-sheet conditions of the Np separation process from U and Pu. Iso-butyraldehyde was found to have a higher reduction rate than n-butyraldehyde. The former reduction rate at T = 283 to 323 K is described by the following equation: -d[Np(VI)]/dt = 6.0 X 10 6 exp(-4.1 x 10 3 /T) x [Np(VI)].[iso-C 3 H 7 CHO] 0 . [H + ] (M/min) . The latter reduction rate is described by the following equation : -d[Np(VI)]/dt = 4.2 x 10 4 exp(-3.4 x 10 3 /T) x [Np(VI)].[n-C 3 H 7 CHO] 0 .[H + ] (M/min) .