The preparation and decomposition of methylhydrazine oxalate and its application as cleaning extractant

The preparation, stability and decomposition of methylhydrazine oxalate (MH OX) were investigated. White needles of MHOX were prepared. The molecular f ormula of MHOX is (CH3N2H4)(2)C2O4. The aqueous solution of MHOX is stable at ambient temperature. The kinetics of redox reaction between oxalic acid and H2O2 used as an oxid ant was studied. The kinetic rate equation is as follows -d[Ox]/dt = k[Ox][H2O2][H+](0.34). The kinetics of redox reaction between methylhydrazine and H2O2 was also st udied. The rate of decomposition of methylhydrazine is higher than that of oxalic acid. The decomposition reaction is given as follows: CH3N2H3 + H2O2 --> N-2 + CH4 + 2H(2)O. The proposed kinetic rate equation is as follows: -d[CH3N2H3]/dt = k[CH3N2H3] [H2O2]. The rate of decomposition of MHOX with H2O2 depends mainly on that of oxali c acid. Experiments show that the washing efficiency of uranium from 30% TBP-kerose ne (OK) used with MHOX is the same as that with Na2CO3. The washing efficie ncy of Pu and Am with MHOX is greater than that with Na2CO3.