Mica Surfaces Stabilize Pentavalent Uranium

Journal Article · Mon May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Inorganic Chemistry, 44(9):2986-2988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ic0487272· OSTI ID:15016568

Ilton, Eugene S; Haiduc, Anca; Cahill, Christopher L; Felmy, Andrew R

We used high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to demonstrate that reduction of aqueous U6+ at ferrous mica surfaces at 25oC preserves U5+ as the dominant sorbed species over a broad range of solution compositions. Polymerization of sorbed U5+ with sorbed U6+ and U4+ is identified as a possible mechanism for how mineral surfaces circumvent the rapid disproportionation of aqueous U5+. The general nature of this mechanism suggests that U5+ could play an important, but previously unidentified, role in the low–temperature chemistry of uranium in reducing, heterogeneous aqueous systems.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15016568
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-42734; 4692; KC0303020
• Journal Information: Inorganic Chemistry, 44(9):2986-2988, Journal Name: Inorganic Chemistry, 44(9):2986-2988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory