Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rapid dissolution of PuO2 analytical samples using mediated electrochemical oxidation

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Current methods for quantitative dissolution of solid PuO2 involve lengthy dissolution times. The adaptation of mediated electrochemical oxidation, which uses an electrochemically produced oxidizing agent to catalyze dissolution, has been explored for radiochemical analysis scale dissolutions of PuO2. The effects of temperature, electrode material, and electrocatalyst on the dissolution kinetics were explored. Under conditions examined in this study, complete dissolution of tens of milligrams of solid PuO2 can be achieved in less than 1 h at ambient temperature. This methodology could be adapted to dissolve other metal oxides.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Oakley S (2017) Space Exploration: Improved Planning and Communication Needed for Plutonium-238 and Radioisotope Power Systems Production GAO-18-161T. Technical report for the US Government Acountability Office, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bray L, Ryan J, Wheelwright E (1985) Development of the CEPOD Process for Dissolving Plutonium Oxide and Leaching Plutonium from Scrap and Wastes PN-5657. Technical report for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA

    Google Scholar 

  3. Machuron-Mandard X, Madic C (1994) Basic studies on the kinetics and mechanism of the rapid dissolution reaction of plutonium dioxide under reducing conditions in acidic media. J Alloys Compd 213(214):100–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ryan J, Bray L, Boldt A (1987) U.S. Patent Number: 4,686,019/A/

  5. Zundelevich Y (1992) The mediated electrochemical dissolution of plutonium oxide: kinetics and mechanism. J Alloys Compd. https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-8388(92)90580-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bourges J, Madic C, Koehly G, Lecomte M (1986) Dissolution du bioxyde de plutonium en milieu nitrique par l’argent(II) electrogenere. J Less Common Metals. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5088(86)90424-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Brown J, Campbell C, Carrigan C, Carrott M, Greenough K, Maher C, McLuckie B, Mason C, Gregson C, Griffiths T, Holt J, Sarsfield M, Stephenson K, Taylor R, Tinsley T (2018) Americium and Plutonium Purification by Extraction (the AMPPEX Process): Development of a New Method to Separate 241Am from Aged Plutonium Dioxide for Use in Space Power Systems. Prog Nucl Energy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.02.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Izquierdo J, Lavenu A, Kniebihli B (1998) The Centralized Alpha Waste Treatment Facility (UCD) at La Hague. In: 5th International Nuclear Conference on Recycling, Conditioning and Disposal: Nice, France.

  9. Farmer J (2006) Destruction of Chlorinated Organics by Cobalt(III)-Mediated Electrochemical Oxidation. J Electrochem Soc DOI 10(1149/1):2069027

    Google Scholar 

  10. Matheswaran M, Chung S, Moon I (2008) Cobalt(III)-mediated oxidative destruction of phenol using divided electrochemical cell. Chem Eng, Korean J. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-008-0168-1

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Das A (2001) Kinetic and Mechanistic Aspects of Metal Ion Catalysis in Cerium(IV) Oxidation. Chem. Rev. s, Coord. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-8545(00)00376-3

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Matheswaran M, Balaji S, Chung S, Moon I (2007) Silver ion catalyzed cerium(IV) mediated electrochemical oxidation of phenol in nitric acid medium. Acta, Electrochim. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2007.08.042

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. Chandrasekara P, Chung S, Moon I (2008) Studies on electrochemical recovery of silver from simulated waste water from Ag(II)/Ag(I) based mediated electrochemical oxidation process. Chemosphere. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.07.047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Raju T, Chung S, Moon I (2009) Electrochemical recovery of silver from waste aqueous Ag(I)/Ag(II) redox mediator solution used in mediated electro oxidation process. Chem. Eng, Korean J. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-009-0175-x

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Miting Du and Tom Hylton for providing results from the nitric/hydrofluoric acid dissolutions and general discussions on dissolving plutonium oxide. The authors thank the Nuclear Analytical Chemistry and Isotopics Laboratory Group for performing the radioanalytical measurements. Funding for this work was provided by the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and administered by the US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, under contract DEAC05-00OR22725.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Aaron J. Unger

    Present address: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA

    Michael E. Woods & Supathorn Phongikaroon

  2. Isotope and Fuel Cycle Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA

    Paul D. Benny, Aaron J. Unger & Kristian G. Myhre

Authors
  1. Michael E. Woods
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul D. Benny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aaron J. Unger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Supathorn Phongikaroon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kristian G. Myhre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristian G. Myhre.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Woods, M.E., Benny, P.D., Unger, A.J. et al. Rapid dissolution of PuO2 analytical samples using mediated electrochemical oxidation. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 991–995 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07577-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07577-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation