Most uranyl species in both solid and solution phases display bright green-yellow fluorescence spectra with well resolved spectral progressions.  The spectral position, vibronic peak spacing, and fluorescence lifetimes often vary as a function of the equatorial ligand coordination and its hydration status.  These spectral characteristics allow the determination of uranyl speciation and its transformation under various environmental conditions and thus can be potentially exploited in nuclear forensic applications.  This work describes the general spectral properties of uranyl nitrate in both solid state and aqueous solutions, as well as spectral changes occurring during ultrasonic atomization of the solution and subsequent aging processes. Multiple uranyl nitrate and oxyhydroxide complexes form depending on the solution composition and sample treatment.  Through spectral comparison, the possible speciation transformation pathways and end states of aerosolized uranyl nitrate particles stored under a variety of environmental conditions are presented in this work.

Fluorescence spectroscopy investigation of the transformation of U(VI) speciation under environmental conditions

245th National Meeting (2013)

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