Characterization of uranium(VI) in seawater

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1986.31.5.1122· OSTI ID:6440102

Djogic, R; Sipos, L; Branica, M

The physicochemical characterization of uranium(VI) in seawater is described on the basis of species distribution calculations and experiments using polarography and spectrophotometry in artificial seawater at elevated uranium concentrations. Various dissolved uranium(VI) species are identified under different conditions of pH and carbonate concentration. Below pH 4, the hydrated uranyl ion is present in the free state (forming labile complexes). Above pH 4, a stepwise coordination of uranyl by the carbonate ion occurs. The monocarbonate complex is formed in the pH range 4-5, the bicarbonate uranyl complex between 5 and 6. Above pH 8, uranium is present predominately as the tricarbonate and to a smaller extent as a trihydroxide complex. There is satisfactory agreement between our experiments and the theoretically computed distribution of uranium(VI) in seawater based on published stability constants. The experiments done at higher concentrations are justified by theoretical distributions showing that there is no great difference in species distribution between the uranium at concentrations of 10/sup -4/ and /sup -8/ mol dm/sup -3/.

• Research Organization: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Yugoslavia
• OSTI ID: 6440102
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Journal Name: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States) Vol. 31:5; ISSN LIOCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520300* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
DISTRIBUTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
IONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLAROGRAPHY
SEAWATER
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM HYDROXIDES
URANYL COMPOUNDS
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY