On the catalytic effects of UO2(s) and Pd(s) on the reaction between H2O2 and H2 in aqueous solution

The possible catalytic effects of UO2 and Pd (as a model for noble metal particles) on the reaction between H2O2 and H2 have been studied experimentally. The experiments were performed in aqueous solution using an autoclave. The aqueous solutions were pressurized with H2 or N2 and the H2O2 concentration was measured as a function of time. The experiments clearly showed that Pd catalyzes the reaction between H2O2 and H2 while UO2 has no catalytic effect. The rate constant of the reaction between H2O2 and H2 catalyzed by Pd was found to be close to diffusion controlled and independent of the H2 pressure in the range 1-40 bar. The impact of the catalytic effect on the reaction between H2O2 and H2 on spent nuclear fuel dissolution is, however, fairly small. Other possible effects of noble metal particles are also discussed, e.g. reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) in the liquid and solid phase.