FTIR spectra of the hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
The hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride has been examined with infrared spectroscopy under three different reaction conditions. First, UF{sub 6} was codeposited with water in excess argon at 12 K. The FTIR spectra of UF{sub 6}/H{sub 2}O mixtures revealed several product absorptions due to the perturbed v{sub 1}, v{sub 2}, and v{sub 3} modes of H{sub 2}O as well as the v{sub 3} mode of UF{sub 6}. These new absorptions have been assigned to the anti-hydrogen-bonded 1:1 complex, UF{sub 6}-OH{sub 2}. Photolysis of this weak complex produced a doublet at 868.2 and 857.1 cm{sup -1}, which has been assigned to the UOF{sub 4}. Next, solid films of UF{sub 6}/H{sub 2}O mixtures were prepared at 12 K and slowly annealed at 242 K. The reaction profile of the UF{sub 6} hydrolysis from UF{sub 6} hydrolysis from UF{sub 6} (or UF{sub 6}-OH{sub 2}) to UOF{sub 4} to UO{sub 2}F{sub 2} was obtained. Finally, UF{sub 6} and H{sub 2}O were reacted at low pressures and ambient temperatures in a new IR gas cell. While no gaseous uranium oxyfluorides were detected, the final product distribution inside the gas cell did indicate that the fluorinated nickel surface served as a catalyst for the UF{sub 6} hydrolysis. 21 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 379458
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 96, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: 6 Feb 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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