Thermal and X-ray diffraction analysis studies during the decomposition of ammonium uranyl nitrate.

Two types of ammonium uranyl nitrate (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O and NH4UO2(NO3)3, were thermally decomposed and reduced in a TG-DTA unit in nitrogen, air, and hydrogen atmospheres. Various intermediate phases produced by the thermal decomposition and reduction process were investigated by an X-ray diffraction analysis and a TG/DTA analysis. Both (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O and NH4UO2(NO3)3 decomposed to amorphous UO3 regardless of the atmosphere used. The amorphous UO3 from (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O was crystallized to γ-UO3 regardless of the atmosphere used without a change in weight. The amorphous UO3 obtained from decomposition of NH4UO2(NO3)3 was crystallized to α-UO3 under a nitrogen and air atmosphere, and to β-UO3 under a hydrogen atmosphere without a change in weight. Under each atmosphere, the reaction paths of (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O and NH4UO2(NO3)3 were as follows: under a nitrogen atmosphere: (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O → (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·H2O → (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4 → NH4UO2(NO3)3 → A-UO3 → γ-UO3 → U3O8, NH4UO2(NO3)3 → A-UO3 → α-UO3 → U3O8; under an air atmosphere: (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O → (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·H2O → (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4 → NH4UO2(NO3)3 → A-UO3 → γ-UO3 → U3O8, NH4UO2(NO3)3 → A-UO3 → α-UO3 → U3O8; and under a hydrogen atmosphere: (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·2H2O → (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4·H2O → (NH4)2UO2(NO3)4 → NH4UO2(NO3)3 → A-UO3 → γ-UO3 → α-U3O8 → UO2, NH4 UO2(NO3)3 → A-UO3 → β-UO3 → α-U3O8 → UO2.