Neptunium(IV) complexation by humic substances studied by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy


Neptunium(IV) complexation by humic substances studied by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Schmeide, K.; Reich, T.; Sachs, S.; Brendler, V.; Heise, K. H.; Bernhard, G.

We studied the coordination environment of neptunium(IV) in complexes with various natural and synthetic humic and fulvic acids at pH 1 by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. The results were compared to those obtained for the interaction of neptunium(IV) with Bio-Rex70, a cation exchange resin having solely carboxylic groups as metal binding functional groups. In both neptunium humate complexes and neptunium Bio-Rex70 sorbates, Np4+ is surrounded by about 10 oxygen atoms at an average distance of 2.36 ± 0.02 Å. This verifies that the carboxylic groups are the main complexing sites of the humic substances responsible for binding neptunium(IV) in the acidic pH range. The data suggest a predominant monodentate coordination of the carboxylate groups to neptunium(IV) ions.

Keywords: Neptunium; Humic acid; Fulvic acid; Complexation; Structure; XANES; EXAFS

  • Radiochimica Acta 93(2005), 187-196

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Publ.-Id: 4041