Nitric oxide formation from hydroxylamines

C-Nitroso compounds, oximes, N-hydroxyguanidines and N-hydroxyureas each contain an N-O bond and release nitric oxide (NO) or one of its redox forms under some conditions. The nitrogen atom of a C-nitroso compound formally exists in the +1 oxidation state, the same oxidation state as nitroxyl (HNO), the one-electron reduced form of N O. The nitrogen atoms of oximes, N-hydroxyguanidines, and N-hydroxyureas each formally exist in the -1 oxidation state, the same oxidation state as hydroxylamine. Consequently, the direct formation of NO (formal oxidation state = +2) from any of these species requires oxidation, one electron for a C-nitroso compound and three electrons for an oxime, N-hydroxyguanidine or N-hydroxyurea. This chapter summarizes the syntheses and properties, NO-releasing mechanisms and the known structure-activity relationships of these compounds. 

Plutonium trifluoride. Plutonium trifluoride can be converted directly to plutonium metal, or it is an intermediate in the formation of PUF4 or PUF4 -PUO2 mixtures for thermochemical reduction, as described in Sec. 4.8. The stabilized Pu(III) solution, produced by cation exchange in one of the Purex process options for fuel reprocessing, is a natural feed for the formation of plutonium trifluoride, as is shown in the flow sheet of Fig. 9.9 [03]. A typical eluent solution from cation exchange consists of 30 to 70 g plutonium/liter, 4 to 5 Af nitric acid, 0.2 Af sulfamic acid, and 03 Af hydroxylamine nitrate. The sulfamic acid reacts rapidly with nitrous acid to reduce the rate of oxidation of Pu(III) to about 4 to 6 percent per day. Addition of ascorbic acid to the plutonium solution just before fluoride precipitation reduces Pu(IV) rapidly and completely to Pu(III). 

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