KINETICS OF REACTIONS OF NP AND PU IONS WITH HYDRAZINE DERIVATIVES .9. CATALYSIS BY FE(III) OF THE REACTION BETWEEN PU(IV) AND 2-HYDROXYETHYLHYDRAZINE

Reduction of Pu(IV) by 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine catalyzed by Fe(III) in HNO3 solution follows the rate equation - d[Pu(IV)/dt = k1 [Pu(IV)][HOC2H4N2H4+]/[H+] + k2 [Fe(III)][HOC2H4N2H4+]/[H+], where k1 = (0. 763 + 0.036) min-1 and k2 = (0.273 +/- 0.010) min-1 at 25-degrees-C and ionic strength mu = 2. The activation energies of these two reaction pathways are E1 = (114 +/- 2) and E2 = (100 +/- 3) kJ/mole. The rate-limiting steps are interaction of molecular 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine with Pu4+ and Fe3+. The Fe2+ formed is rapidly oxidized by pu4+.