The large tunable interface provided by ordered mesoporous solids may be advantageous in applications involving separation, sequestration, or detection of actinides in solution. However, the fundamental chemical interactions of actinides with the materials must be understood before applications can be implemented. The primary focus of my work with Professor Heino Nitsche was investigation of the adsorption and redox reactions of plutonium with ordered mesoporous silica and carbon based materials. The interactions were studied by batch contact, Pu L<sub>III</sub> edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and electron microscopy techniques. The sorption and redox behavior of Pu with organically-modified mesoporous silica is variable, and completely dependent on the identity and accessibility of the ligands grafted to the surface. In contrast, unfunctionalized porous carbons behave as reducing agents towards Pu, with profound effects on the sorption reactions of Pu with carbon-based materials.

Interactions of plutonium and ordered mesoporous materials

249th National Meeting (2015)

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