Chemical Effects of the ²³⁸U(n,y)²³⁹U Reaction and of the ²³⁹U→^{β– 239}Np Decay in Solid Uranium Compounds

Abstract

Speciation of 239 U and 239 Np formed by the nuclear transformations 238 U(n,)j) 239 U -> 239 Np is reported. Various solid compounds, U0 2 (N0 3 ) 2 • 6H 2 0, (NH 4 ) 2 U 2 0 7 , U0 2 (CH 3 C00) 2 • 2H 2 0, U0 2 C 2 0 4 · 3 H 2 0, U0 2 (HC0 2 ) 2 · H 2 0, U0 2 C1 2 • 3 H 2 0, UCU and U(CH 3 COO) 4 , were irradiated in a thermal neutron flux of 10 12 cm -2 s 1 and analyzed by HPLC.This study suggests that the migration of actinides should be limited for radwastes stored in organic reducing matrixes.