AW: [ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions

[Mercado, Don]

Gentlemen, do a Google search on bovik.org and look at Salsman's agenda. Also, he has a petition into the NRC here:

   http://www.bovik.org/du/du-petition.html

Don't waste your breath or bandwidth.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of James Salsman
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:27 PM
To: Franz Schönhofer
Cc: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: Re: AW: [ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions


Franz Schönhofer wrote:

> You mention "poison gas strictly forbidden by the laws of war" - what 
> are these laws of war?

The 1925 Geneva Protocol bans the use of "asphyxiating, poisonous, or other gases, and of all analogous liquids."  The 1899 and 1907 Hague Regulations ban the use of "poison or poisoned weapons."

>... Pyrophoric means that it reacts with oxygen.

Actually, pyrophoric means that it burns in air.  Uranium reacts with Nitrogen at 800 degrees Celsius.  Uranium burns in air at above 1100 degrees Celsius.

>... to form nitrates would be a rather complicated and unreasonable 
>reaction.

On the contrary, the only question is what proportion falls out of the fire's plasma:

      UO2 + 2 NO + 2 O2 --> UO2(NO3)2

      UO2 + 2 NO2 + O2 --> UO2(NO3)2

      2 UO3 + 4 NO + 2 O2 --> 2 UO2(NO3)2

> Your question of nitrogen compounds (as a chemist I do not know of 
> any) and very specially on UO3 species (is it UO3 or not?) leads me to 
> conclude that you are just another one of these pseudo-scientists, who 
> probably have studied a year of chemistry and now regard themselves as 
> the ultimate experts in nuclear issues or whatever else, just as 
> required by some umbrella organisation which finances you.

The Gmelin Handbook and other actinide chemistry books indicate that about 1/5th of uranium burned in air oxidizes as the UO3 species.  The Army has never detected that species in any of their open-air burns, because it is much lighter than the other oxides and wafts much further away from the burn.  The vapor pressure of uranyl nitrate is much, much greater than that of UO3, so of course it travels further, and, it precipitates as a film instead of clumping.

They have never detected nitrogen compounds (including two species of insoluble nitrides, by the way) because, for some reason, they have never bothered to look.  I am not certain I believe the assertion that the scientists in charge of the uranium munitions safety studies were unaware that uranium reacts with nitrogen, but as you, an expert chemist, assert the same thing, it is difficult for me to tell.  I learned the reaction temperature in less than two days of library research.  In my most recent petition to the NRC, I have alleged gross negligence, which is the willful and reckless disregard for the safety of others.  The NRC is obligated to complete an investigation.  We will see where the evidence leads.

> Could you provide your political agenda clearly, so that we know whom 
> we have to deal with?

Certainly.  I have a young daughter, and I would prefer that when she comes of age, the proportion of males in the population with teratogenic sperm is kept to a minimum.

Sincerely,
James Salsman


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