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Spectroscopic and structural studies of environmentally relevant Neptunium(V) and Plutonium(V) complexes

Conference ·
OSTI ID:126717
Carbonate and bicarbonate are common anions in natural waters, consequently carbonate complexes of the actinides may play an important role in their migration from a nuclear waste repository. Due to the relatively high solubility and redox stability of Np(V) and Pu(V), these ions are particularly important to consider. Carbonate complexation reactions were examined for NpO{sub 2}{sup +} and PuO{sub 2}{sup +} using a variety of techniques, including {sup 13}C and {sup 17}O NMR and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopies, EXAFS studies have been performed on both solid state and solution species. Previously, NpO{sub 2}{sup +}, carbonates have been difficult to observe by UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy due to the formation of insoluble NaNp{sub 2}O{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}) or Na{sub 3}NpO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 2} salts. However, by employing tetrabutylammonium as the counter cation, millimolar concentrations have been obtained and utilized for temperature dependent carbonate complexation studies by NMR and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy.
OSTI ID:
126717
Report Number(s):
CONF-950402--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English