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Speciation of uranium after microbial action by XANES and XPS

  • Brookhaven National Laboratory

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The speciation of radionuclides and toxic metals in wastes subjected to microbial action is important in determining the extent of stabilization in a disposal environment. As part of an ongoing study, we investigated the reduction of uranium by a Clostridium sp, using X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis of uranyl acetate containing hexavalent uranium exhibited a binding energy of 382.0eV at the U 4f7/2 peak. The sample incubated in the presence of bacteria was shifted to lower binding energy (380.6eV)2 confirming the reduction of U6+ to U4+ at the bacterial surface. XANES analysis, using an electron yield detector, was performed at the MV absorption edge (3d- > 51). The absorption peak energy of the sample exhibited a shift from 3551.1eV to 3550.1eV which is higher than uranium metal (3549.6eV) but lower than U4+ (3550.4eV). This indicates the presence of U3+ which is probably located beneath the surface within the biomass. Anaerobic bacterial treatment of wastes containing uranyl ion can result in the stabilization of uranium.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationApplications of Synchrotron Radiation Techniques to Materials Science
PublisherPubl by Materials Research Society
Pages89-93
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)1558992030, 9781558992030
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993
EventMaterials Research Society Spring Meeting - San Francisco, CA, USA
Duration: Apr 12 1993Apr 15 1993

Publication series

NameMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume307
ISSN (Print)0272-9172

Conference

ConferenceMaterials Research Society Spring Meeting
CitySan Francisco, CA, USA
Period04/12/9304/15/93

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