Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of pertechnetate electroreduction in acidic media

Choline chloride-formic acid mixture as a medium for the reduction of pertechnetates - electrochemical and spectroscopic studies

The physicochemical properties of a choline chloride (ChCl) and formic acid (FA) mixture (1 : 2 molar ratio) have been studied over a broad range of temperatures (-140 to 60 °C). Differential scanning calorimetry has shown that the examined system remains in the liquid state at very low temperatures - a glass transition is observed in the range of -125 °C to -90 °C. The kinematic viscosity, ionic conductivity and the width of the electrochemical window determined for this system revealed its beneficial electrochemical properties. This indicates the suitability of ChCl : FA electrolytes in electrochemical measurements. In this non-aqueous electrolyte, electrochemical reduction of Tc(VII) ions has been studied for the first time. Cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry experiments revealed that the electroreduction of pertechnetates is a multi-path process which leads to the formation of a Tc(IV) ionic form. X-Ray absorption spectroscopy of the latter revealed its structure as a TcCl₆^2- complex.

Rapid determination of 99Tc in water samples using Ti(OH)3-TcO2 co-precipitation and TK200 resin by liquid scintillation counting

A novel method for the determination of ⁹⁹Tc in water samples was developed using stable Re as a chemical yield tracer and TiCl₃ as a reducing agent. The influences of several experimental parameters, including TiCl₃ concentration, HCl concentration and reaction time, on the reduction of TcO₄^- and ReO₄^- as well as Ti(OH)₃-TcO₂-ReO₂ co-precipitation were investigated. Tc(VII) and Re(VII) retained on TK200 resin were effectively eluted by 5 mL of 1 mol/L NH₄SCN, which can be directly mixed with the scintillation cocktail for liquid scintillation counting. The results show that the chemical behaviors of Tc and Re are very consistent in the whole procedure. The decontamination factors of potential interferences from β-emitting nuclides mainly released from nuclear fuel reprocessing plants were also evaluated, and the minimum detectable activity concentration was calculated to be 0.08 Bq/L for ⁹⁹Tc in water samples with a counting time of 2 h.

Exploring the Reduction Mechanism of 99Tc(VII) in NaClO4: A Spectro-Electrochemical Approach

Technetium (Tc) is an environmentally relevant radioactive contaminant whose migration is limited when Tc(VII) is reduced to Tc(IV). However, its reaction mechanisms are not well understood yet. We have combined electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and microscopy (cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman and scanning electron microscopy) to study Tc(VII) reduction in non-complexing media: 0.5 mM KTcO₄ in 2 M NaClO₄ in the pH from 2.0 to 10.0. At pH 2.0, Tc(VII) first gains 2.3 ± 0.3 electrons, following Tc(V) rapidly receives 1.3 ± 0.3 electrons yielding Tc(IV). At pH 4.0-10.0, Tc(IV) is directly obtained by transfer of 3.2 ± 0.3 electrons. The reduction of Tc(VII) produced always a black solid identified as Tc(IV) by Raman and XPS. Our results narrow a significant gap in the fundamental knowledge of Tc aqueous chemistry and are important to understand Tc speciation. They provide basic steps on the way from non-complexing to complex media.

Electrochemical reduction of uranium and rhenium in hydrochloric acid system

The electrochemical reduction of U(VI) and Re(VII) ions on Pt and Mo metals are discussed. The electrochemical behavior of U(VI) and Re(VII) in hydrochloric acid media was investigated using various electrochemical techniques. By analyzing the cyclic voltammogram of U(VI) and Re(VII) recorded on Pt electrode, a series of electrochemical reactions associated with uranium and rhenium were recognized, indicating that U(VI) and Re(VII) undergoes a single-step electron and multistep electron process under experimental conditions, respectively. The reduction of U(VI) and Re(VII) was found to be controlled by charge transfer and diffusion in hydrochloric acid media. The diffusion coefficient of U(VI) and Re(VII)was determined to be 4.22–5.99 × 10−6 cm2 s−1 and 1.50–2.90 × 10−5 cm2 s−1, respectively, and the activation energy for the diffusion are calculated to be 18.12 kJ mol−1 and 14.52 kJ mol−1 by cyclic voltammetry at different temperatures. The reduction process of U(VI) and Re(VII) at hydrochloric acid is further studied by potentiostatic electrolysis. It is feasible to realize the reduction of uranium and rhenium from aqueous solution by electrolysis.

Redox interactions of technetium with neptunium in acid solutions

Redox interaction of reduced technetium forms and technetium(VII) with neptunium(III), neptunium(IV) and neptunium(VI) have been investigated using electrochemical and spectroscopic (Vis-NIR) techniques. The neptunium species most stable in 4 M H₂SO₄, i.e. Np(IV) ions, do not reduce Tc(VII) in contrast to Np(VI) ions which oxidize Tc(IV) species to Tc(VII). The interaction of pertechnetates with Np(III) leads to formation of Tc(IV) species. The Vis-NIR measurements showed the generation of intermediate Tc(V) and Np(V) forms during the oxidation of Tc(IV) and competitive reduction of Np(VI). Tc(V) and Np(V) forms are characterised by the bands at 460 and 980 nm respectively.

Speciation and reactivity of heptavalent technetium in strong acids

The speciation of Tc(vii) and its reactivity with H₂O₂, methanol and H₂S in H₂SO₄, HClO₄and HNO₃is reviewed.

Extraction of moderate oxidation state technetium species between 30 % tri-n-butyl phosphate and H2SO4/HNO3

The extraction of technetium species at oxidation state lower than +7 has been examined in sulfuric and sulfuric/nitric acid solutions using UV–Vis spectroscopy and optically transparent thin layer cell (RVC-OTTLE). Soluble Tc(III), TcO²⁺ and [Tc₂O₂]³⁺ species with absorption bands at 420–450, 400, and 502 nm, respectively, were detected as products of pertechnetates electroreduction. The distribution ratios of ⁹⁹Tc with lower than +VII oxidation state ionic species between 4 M H₂SO₄ and 30 % TBP/kerosene were found and are significantly lower than for TcO₄⁻ in the same solution.

Thin layer spectroelectrochemical (RVC-OTTLE) studies of pertechnetate reduction in acidic media

The electroreduction of the pertechnetate ions has been examined in sulfuric acid solutions (0.5–4 M) using optically transparent thin layer spectroelectrochemical (RVC-OTTLE) cell. Soluble Tc(III), TcO²⁺ and [Tc(μ-O)₂Tc]^3+/4+ species with absorption bands at 420–450, 400, and 502 nm, respectively, were found to be formed during the reduction of TcO₄⁻ ions. The strongly acidic medium was found to stabilize technetium ionic forms with lower oxidation states. Spectroelectrochemical measurements performed in 4 M H₂SO₄ show different stability of dimeric structure of Tc(III, IV) and simple TcO²⁺ ions. The monooxotechnetium(IV) ions can be electrooxidized at potentials lower than 0.6 V versus Ag,AgCl_(sat.) while dimeric structures of Tc, [Tc(μ-O)₂Tc]^3+/4+, are electrooxidized to pertechnetate ions at potentials higher than 0.8 V versus Ag,AgCl_(sat.)