Production
Industrially, neptunium dioxide is formed from the precipitation of neptunium(IV) oxalate from a neptunium feed solution with oxalic acid, followed by calcination to neptunium dioxide. The neptunium feed solution (which includes varying oxidation states of neptunium) is reduced to a predominately neptunium(IV) solution via ascorbic acid prior to the addition of oxalic acid. A hydrazine inhibitor is initially added to the neptunium feed solution to protect the neptunium and ascorbic acid from decay.
Extrapolated and balanced from "The Production of Neptunium Dioxide" by J. A. Porter
Np4+ + Np5+ + Np6+ + HNO3 + C6H8O6 → 3 Np4+ + C6H6O6 + H2 + HNO3
Np4+ + C2O4H2 → Np(C2O4) • 6H2O + 2H−
Np(C2O4) • 6H2O + Δ → Np(C2O4)
Np(C2O4) + Δ → NpO2 + 2CO2
Neptunium dioxide can also be formed effectively from precipitation of neptunium(IV) peroxide, but the oxalate reduction has been found to be more industrially efficient.
Read more about this topic: Neptunium(IV) Oxide
Famous quotes containing the word production:
“Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.”
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)
“Perestroika basically is creating material incentives for the individual. Some of the comrades deny that, but I can’t see it any other way. In that sense human nature kinda goes backwards. It’s a step backwards. You have to realize the people weren’t quite ready for a socialist production system.”
—Gus Hall (b. 1910)
“The problem of culture is seldom grasped correctly. The goal of a culture is not the greatest possible happiness of a people, nor is it the unhindered development of all their talents; instead, culture shows itself in the correct proportion of these developments. Its aim points beyond earthly happiness: the production of great works is the aim of culture.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)