Characterizing the Chemical Behavior of Uranium Compounds for Nuclear Forensics
Better characterization of uranium compounds related to the nuclear fuel cycle is a key goal of the nuclear forensics community. Understanding the chemical behavior of these compounds in various environmental conditions and the effect on observable properties is crucial to the identification of unknown materials. Uranyl fluoride, the hydrolysis product of uranium hexafluoride, is a material of particular interest. Previous studies have suggested that uranyl fluoride may degrade upon exposure to high humidity, but the chemical pathway of degradation was previously not well understood. Our work demonstrates that uranyl fluoride undergoes a chemical reaction with water vapor to form uranyl hydroxide and peroxide species. This understanding will help guide forensic analysis in the future.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1474609
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: INMM 59th Annual Meeting - Balitmore, Maryland, United States of America - 7/22/2018 4:00:00 AM-7/26/2018 4:00:00 AM
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Characterizing the degradation of [(UO2F2)(H2O)]7 4H2O under humid conditions
Airborne uranium, its concentration and toxicity in uranium enrichment facilities