Exotic New Oxides of Plutonium Found by Using Gas Thermochromatography

• Published in: Journal of nuclear science and technology 2002-11, Vol.39 (sup3), p.579-584
• Main Authors: Domanov, V.P., Buklaeov, G.V., Lobanov, Yu.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: gas thermochromatography; plutonium oxides; separation; valency; volatility; α-spectrometry
• ISSN: 0022-3131; 1881-1248
• DOI: 10.1080/00223131.2002.10875535

The volatility of compounds formed during heating of trace quantities of 238 Pu or 239 Pu in a stream of helium and oxygen mixture was studied by gas thermochromatography. Under certain conditions plutonium forms four adsorption zones with the centers at 450±25°C, 250±25°C, 130±50°C and -105±25°C in quartz TC columns. For the interpretation of the results, model experiments with carrier-free radioisotopes of Os, Re, Ru and Tc were performed. It was found that in the stream of He with a small amounts of O 2 , products were adsorbed at 450-500°C and at 250-300°C in the form of dioxides and trioxides. The results of the thermochromatographic (TC) isolation of volatile oxygen-containing compounds of U and 249 Cf are also presented. Based on the data obtained with Pu, we assume that the first adsorption zone (450±25°C) is due to PuO 2 formation, the second one is due to PuO 3 formation and the third may be due to formation of a plutonium acid H 2 PuO 4 (proposed formula). Comparison of the adsorption zone of OsO 4 with the fourth deposition zone for Pu indicates their similarity. We conclude that at -105±25°C, octovalent plutonium deposits in the form of tetraoxide.