Insight into Speciation and Electrochemistry of Uranyl Ions in Deep Eutectic Solvents

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b08197
• Publication Date: 2019-12-05T17:19:30Z
• Authors: Ruma Gupta; BalGovind Vats; Ashok K. Pandey; Manoj K. Sharma; Pooja Sahu; A. K. Yadav; Sk. Musharaf Ali; Shanmugaperumal K...
• Keywords: Uranyl

Understanding the speciation of metal ions in heterogeneous hydrogen-bonded deep eutectic solvents (DES) has immense importance for their wide range applications green technology, environmental remediation, and nuclear industry. Unfortunately, fundamental nature interaction between DES actinide is almost completely unknown. In present work, we outline speciation, solvation mechanism, redox chemistry uranyl ion (UO22+) consisting choline chloride (ChCl) urea as hydrogen-bond donor. Electrochemical spectroscopic techniques along with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have provided a microscopic insight into UO22+ also on associated changes physical composition DES. The structure plays an important role behavior because its strong complexation components. X-ray absorption spectroscopy MD showed covalent interactions constituents DES, which led to rearrangement hydrogen-bonding network it without formation any clusters or aggregations. This, turn, stabilizes most unstable pentavalent uranium (UO2+) analysis highlights fact that number H-bonds reduced presence nitrate irrespective water respect pristine reline, suggests high stability formed complexed species. effect added up 20 v/v % insignificant but influences considerably. findings work would far reaching consequences understanding particularly application field fuel reprocessing.