As a major, long-lived (t1/2 = 2.14�105 y) product of spent nuclear fuel, 99Tc is a particularly troublesome radioisotope in nuclear waste, particularly in oxide forms.   To develop an understanding of the behavior of Tc in wastes and in the environment, we are studying the electronic states and structures of Tc(V) and Tc(VII) oxides with a combined spectroscopic and theoretical approach.   The favorable NMR properties of the 100%-abundant 99Tc isotope and the synthesis of samples with 17O enrichment make it possible to measure electric field gradient and chemical shift tensors of every atom in Tc oxides by solid-state NMR spectroscopy, which provide an excellent basis for determining electronic structures of entire transition-metal oxide complexes.   In addition to its utility as a probe of fundamental structure, we demonstrate that NMR spectroscopy has promising applications as a method for analyzing Tc content in unprocessed radioactive waste materials.

Spectroscopic and theoretical analyses of technetium oxide solids and solutions

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.