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Title: Electrochemical oxidation of 243Am(III) in nitric acid by a terpyridyl-derivatized electrode

Journal Article · · Science

A high surface area, tin-doped indium oxide electrode surface-derivatized with a terpyridine ligand has been applied to the oxidation of trivalent americium to Am(V) and Am(VI) in nitric acid. Potentials as low as 1.8 V vs. the saturated calomel electrode are used, 0.7 V lower than the 2.6 V potential for one-electron oxidation of Am(III) to Am(IV) in 1 M acid. This simple electrochemical procedure provides, for the first time, a method for accessing the higher oxidation states of Am in non-complexing media for developing the coordination chemistries of Am(V) and Am(VI) and, more importantly, for separation of americium from nuclear waste streams.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC07-99ID13727
OSTI ID:
1248209
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU-15-35686
Journal Information:
Science, Vol. 350, Issue 6261; ISSN 0036-8075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English