RESUMO
Mixed actinide(III,IV) oxalates of the general formula M2.2UAn(C2O4)5·nH2O (An = Pu or Am and M = H3O(+) and N2H5(+)) have been quantitatively precipitated by oxalic precipitation in nitric acid medium (yield >99%). Thorough multiscale structural characterization using XRD and XAS measurements confirmed the existence of mixed actinide oxalate solid solutions. The XANES analysis confirmed that the oxidation states of the metallic cations, tetravalent for uranium and trivalent for plutonium and americium, are maintained during the precipitation step. EXAFS measurements show that the local environments around U(+IV), Pu(+III) and Am(+III) are comparable, and the actinides are surrounded by ten oxygen atoms from five bidentate oxalate anions. The mean metal-oxygen distances obtained by XAS measurements are in agreement with those calculated from XRD lattice parameters.
RESUMO
Americium oxalate single crystals, Am2(C2O4)3(H2O)6·4H2O, were prepared by in situ oxalic acid generation by slow hydrolysis of the diester. Their structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and was solved by the direct methods and Fourier difference techniques. The structure (space group P21/c, a = 11.184(4) Å, b = 9.489(4) Å, c = 10.234(4) Å, ß = 114.308(8)°, Z = 2) consists of layers formed by six-membered rings of actinide metals connected through oxalate ions. The americium atoms are nine-coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three bidentate oxalate ligands and three water molecules. The distances within the coordination sphere as well as infrared and Raman spectra of several isostructural lanthanide (Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III)) and actinide (Pu(III), Am(III)) oxalates were compared to evaluate the similarities and the differences between the two series.
