Structural and magnetic susceptibility characterization of Pu(V) aqua ion using sonochemistry as a facile synthesis method

Rapid and facile sonochemical preparation of relatively stable Pu(V) solutions in the millimolar range free from the admixtures of the other oxidation states of plutonium.

Team LSFC
 

Since the past few years, Pu(V) has gained much attention due to its potential contribution to the environmental migration of actinides. However, the preparation of concentrated (up to mM) and pure Pu(V) solutions is quite difficult and often hindered by its great instability towards disproportionation, thus limiting the accessibility to physical and chemical property data. This work describes the rapid and facile sonochemical preparation of relatively stable Pu(V) solutions in the millimolar range free from the admixtures of the other oxidation states of plutonium. The mechanism deals with the sonochemical reduction of Pu(VI) in weakly acidic perchloric solutions by using the in situ generated H2O2, where the kinetics can be dramatically enhanced under high frequency ultrasound and an Ar/O2 atmosphere. The quasi-exclusive presence of the Pu(V) aqua ion in solution was evidenced by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy.

Read the article DOI: 10.1039/C7QI00389G
E. Dalodière, M. Virot, Th. Dumas, D. Guillaumont, M.-C. Illy, C. Berthon, L. Guerin, A. Rossberg, L. Venault, Ph. Moisy, and S. I. Nikitenko. Inorg. Chem. Frontiers. 5, 100 (2018)