Thermodynamic Data of Uranyl Carbonate Complexes from Absorption Spectroscopy

Aqueous uranyl carbonate complexes play an important role in the hydrogeology of uranium mining areas and nuclear waste disposals. The uranyl carbonate complexes are strong and predominant at the range of pH 7-12. The chemical equilibrium is temperature dependent. From the temperature dependency of the equilibrium constant it is possible to determine the reaction enthalpy and entropy.
From absorption spectroscopy the concentration of the formed complex and then the equilibrium constant can be determined.
In our work thermodynamical data for the formation of the uranyl carbonate complex UO2(CO3)34- were determined by absorption spectroscopy. Therefore absorption spectra of solutions with uranyl ions and carbonate ions at pH 9 in the temperature range from 10°C to 70°C were recorded.