Gadolinium(III) nitrate explained

Gadolinium(III) nitrate is an inorganic compound of gadolinium. This salt is used as a water-soluble neutron poison in nuclear reactors.^[1] Gadolinium nitrate, like all nitrate salts, is an oxidizing agent.

The most common form of this substance is hexahydrate Gd(NO₃)₃•6H₂O with molecular weight 451.36 g/mol and CAS Number: 19598-90-4.https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/UA/en/substance/gadoliniumiiinitratehexahydrate4513619598904

Use

Gadolinium nitrate was used at the Savannah River Site heavy water nuclear reactors and had to be separated from the heavy water for storage or reuse.^{[2] [3]} The Canadian CANDU reactor, a pressurized heavy water reactor, also uses gadolinium nitrate as a water-soluble neutron poison in heavy water.

Gadolinium nitrate is also used as a raw material in the production of other gadolinium compounds, for production of specialty glasses and ceramics and as a phosphor.

References

1. Book: DOE Fundamentals Handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory . January 1993 . . 2007-09-26 . 31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080423194722/http://www.hss.energy.gov/NuclearSafety/techstds/standard/hdbk1019/h1019v2.pdf . 2008-04-23 .
2. Web site: Novel Method for Removing Gadolinium from Used Heavy Water Reactor Moderator. E. Wilde . C. Berry .
3. Web site: Novel Method for Removing Gadolinium from Used Heavy Water Reactor Moderator. E.W. Wilde . M.B. Goli . C.J. Berry . J.W. Santo Domingo . H.L. Martin .