Covalency in the actinide series has been probed by the Albrecht-Schmitt group using a series of radiation-resistant borate complexes. The borate-rich radiological waste storage environment at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) will see radiation-induced heating up to 200 oC. This project explores likely products of radiological waste reacting with borates. Previous studies of this system have utilized boric acid fluxes reacted at temperatures far above the 171 oC melting point of boric acid, beyond the temperatures which will occur at WIPP. A series of lanthanide and actinide borate reactions have been completed at reaction temperatures much closer to the melting point of the flux (less than 190 oC) for much shorter reaction times, producing new structures. Among these structures are the third americium borate and and a rare example of an f-element preferentially excluding fluoride from its structure. Systematic differences in reaction conditions which yield different products will be examined.

Very low-temperature lanthanide and actinide borates from boric acid flux

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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