Thermal behavior and kinetic modeling of (NH4)4UO2(CO3)3 decomposition under non-isothermal conditions

Abstract

The thermal behavior and kinetic analysis of ammonium uranyl carbonate decomposition has been studied in inert gas, O2, and 90%Ar–10%H2 atmospheres under non-isothermal conditions. The results showed a dependence on specific surface area with the decomposition temperature of ammonium uranyl tri-carbonate (AUC). Specific surface area increases and reaches a maximum between 300 and 400 °C and decreases at T > 400 °C. The reaction paths of AUC decomposition under the three atmospheres were proposed. The integral methods Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) were used for the kinetic analysis. The activation energy averages are 58.01 and 56.19 kJ/mol by KAS and FWO methods, respectively.