Actinide speciation in glass leach-layers: An EXAFS study

摘要

Uranium L(sub 3) X-ray absorption data were obtained from two borosilicate glasses, which are considered as models for radioactive wasteforms, both before and after leaching. Surface sensitivity to uranium speciation was attained by a novel application of simultaneous fluorescence and electron-yield detection. Changes in speciation are clearly discernible, from U(VI) in the bulk to (UO(sub 2))(sup 2+)-uranyl in the leach layer. The leach-layer uranium concentration variations with leaching times are also determined from the data.