On the Formation of Organic Iodine by Reactions of Iodine Released from Irradiated Fuel with Several Gaseous Materials

Abstract

The formation of organic iodine by reactions of iodine released from irradiated U₃O₈ with several materials such as air, CO₂, H₂O, CH₄, and C₄H₁₀ and of vaporized AgI with such ones as air, CH₄, and CH₃OH was preliminarily studied. The formation of the organic iodine was noticed in both cases when the iodine released from the irradiated U₃O₈ reacted with CH₄ or C₄H₁₀ gas and when the AgI did with CH₄ gas or CH₃OH vapor. The yield of the organic iodine increased with increases in reaction time and the gas concentration. It was found in case of the irradiated U₃O₈ that the organic iodine was formed predominantly by a gas-solid reaction between CH₄ gas and the iodine deposited on the wall of the reaction space rather than by a gas phase reaction between released iodine in vapor state and the gas. The yield of the organic iodine increased with increase in the decomposed fraction of the uranium iodide released from the irradiated U₃O₈ or the vaporized AgI. In cases of air, H₂O, CO₂, the organic iodine formation was thought to be suppressed.