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Meeting Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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The U.S. Million Person Study of Low-Dose-Rate Health Effects
There is a critical knowledge gap regarding the health consequences of exposure to radiation received gradually over time. While there is a plethora of studies on the risks of adverse outcomes from both acute and high-dose exposures, including the landmark study of atomic bomb survivors, these are not characteristic of the chronic exposure to low-dose radiation encountered in occupational and public settings. In addition, smaller cohorts have limited numbers leading to reduced statistical power.
Yu-Keung Sze, Leonard James Clegg, Andrew Francis Gerwing, George Robert Grant
Nuclear Technology | Volume 56 | Number 3 | March 1982 | Pages 527-534
Technical Paper | Chemical Processing | doi.org/10.13182/NT82-A32911
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Oxidation of Pu(III) in tri-n-butyl phosphate solutions containing nitric acid has been studied by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Pu(IV) and nitrous acid (HNO2), one of the reaction intermediates/products, were monitored. An autocatalytic reaction mechanism is proposed in which a small amount of HNO2 is generated during an induction period. It then catalyzes the reaction by reacting with nitric acid to produce NO2, which oxidizes Pu(III) in the rate-determining step. It is suggested a nitritoplutonium(IV) complex is formed that finally reacts with nitric acid to form more HNO2. Reaction rates, measured under conditions similar to those encountered in a solvent extraction contactor, indicate that the reaction proceeds rapidly at concentrations of HNO3 greater than ∼0.2 M in the organic solutions and it is responsible for plutonium losses often observed in solvent extraction operations.
