Spectroscopic Study of Cm(III)Sorption onto γ-Alumina

The surface sorption of Cm(III) onto aqueous suspensions of alumina is investigated by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The experiment is performed under Ar atmosphere at ionic strength of 0.1 M NaClO4. pH is varied between 2 and 10 and the metal ion concentration between 2.7.10-7 and 4.5.10-5 mol/L. With increasing pH, two Cm(III)-alumina surface species are identified which are attributed to ºAl-O-Cm2+(H2O)5 and ºAl-O-Cm+(OH)(H2O)4. The two curium-alumina surface complexes are characterised by their emission spectra (peak maxima at 601.2 nm and 603.3 nm, respectively) and fluorescence emission lifetime (both 110 µs). In the concentration range investigated, the surface complex formation is not dependent upon the metal ion concentration but only on pH. Also the concentration ratio of the two surface species is found to be independent on the metal ion concentration. No spectroscopic evidence for the presence of "strong" and "weak" sites can be found at different surface coverages.