Effect of nitrous acid on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic products of N, N-dimethylhydroxylamine

N, N-dimethylhydroxylamine (DMHA) is a new salt-free reductant used in spent fuel reprocessing, this paper reports the effect of HNO2 on γ-ray radiolysis and radiolytic products of DMHA in nitric acid medium. DMHA concentration in irradiated samples decreases with the increasing dose and initial HNO2 concentration, and the radiolytic rate of DMHA is lower than 21% at 10 kGy supposed to be the maximum dose absorbed by the reagent during the U/Pu separation and the Pu purification. The main radiolytic products are H2, CH3NHOH, HCHO, and HCOOH, and their quantity increases with the dose and initial HNO2 concentration.