Separation Science and Technology, Vol.45, No.12-13, 1841-1848, 2010
Thermal Analysis and Chemical Compatibility of Reillex (TM) HPQ Resin and Nitric Acid with Ethylene Glycol
Recent processing activities at the Savannah River Site (SRS) involved purifying neptunium solutions using anion exchange (ReillexTM HPQ resin) columns. The addition of cooling coils and the use of antifreeze in a chemical make-up tank led to an evaluation of chemical incompatibility accident scenarios between the antifreeze agent, ethylene glycol, and other chemicals used in the anion exchange operation, as well as a risk of possible fouling of the resin with ethylene glycol. Therefore, calorimetric and spectroscopy work was conducted to evaluate reactions and thermal hazards. Ethylene glycol oxidizes readily in 6M nitric acid (at 60 degrees C) and in 40wt% potassium permanganate. The magnitude of the maximum pressure rate data indicates that the reactions are non-deflagrating and non-explosive. In the presence of reductants such as hydrazine and ferrous sulfamate (both at 0.06M), ethylene glycol did not oxidize in permanganate. Ethylene glycol reversibly sorbed on ReillexTM HPQ resin to a limited extent in the time period observed. Therefore, ethylene glycol will not significantly affect the physical shape of the ReillexTM HPQ resin beads.