Thermodynamic properties of uranyl minerals: Constraints from calorimetry and solubility measurements

Tatiana Y. Shvareva, Jeremy B. Fein, Alexandra Navrotsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

More than 50 uranyl minerals, phases containing U 6+ as the uranyl UO 2 2+ cation, and hydroxide, carbonate, phosphate, and silicate anions, H 2O, and alkali and alkaline earth cations, occur in nature and as corrosion products of spent nuclear fuel. Despite their importance and the need to understand their thermodynamics to predict uraniumsolubility, fate, and transport in the environment, reliable thermodynamic data have only been available recently. This paper summarizes recent studies of enthalpies of formation using high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry and Gibbs free energies from solubility experiments. Standard state thermochemical parameters (at 25°C and 1 bar) are tabulated and the stability and transformation sequences of these phases are discussed. The enthalpies of formation from oxides are discussed in terms of crystal structure and Lewis acid-base interactions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)607-613
Number of pages7
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume51
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 18 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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