The Distribution of Oxidation States of Iodine Isotopes in the Fission by Protons of Natural Uranium

Abstract

Oxidation states of iodine, produced in the fission of uranium by protons of energies 30 and 80 MeV in solid matrices of UO2(NO3)2.6H2O and UO2SO4.3H2O, have been studied. No proton energy dependence was found. The percentage distribution of I7+ as (IO4)− is independent of the matrix. However I5+ (as IO3−) is enriched at the expense of the reduced state (I2° + I−) due to oxidation by the (NO3)− formed by the radiation decomposition of UO2(NO3)2.6H2O. Formation of the nuclide by isomeric decay does not perturb the distribution. The result of β−decay is to increase the I7+ component. Iodine isotopes formed independently in fission have the same distribution of oxidation states, but not unique enough to serve as a measure of this mode of formation.