Studies on the dissolution of carbide fuels

The dissolution of carbide fuels was tried with the aid of various oxidants like H₂O₂, NaBiO₃, (NH₄)₂Ce(NO₃)₆, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈, and AgO in nitric acid medium. During the dissolution, the carbon dioxide liberated has been measured. Among the oxidants studied, H₂O₂ and NaBiO₃ appeared to be more effective for dissolution of carbides. 200–300 mg of sintered uranium carbide sample dissolved within 15 minutes in the presence of oxidants H₂O₂ or NaBiO₃. Mixed carbide sample (70%) was dissolved within 30 min, whereas plutonium carbide required more than one hour. From the resulting solutions uranium and plutonium could be determined by conventional redox methods. More than 97% of plutonium could be recovered and purified from the resulting carbide solutions by conventionally used anion exchange method.