As the focus of uranium research has shifted towards investigating the reactivity of the metal ion and understanding its redox chemistry, ascertaining its role within the environment becomes increasingly important. This presentation summarises recent research to probe the coordination chemistry in order to fingerprint several pure oxidation states using luminescence spectroscopy, and to track its migratory behaviour and uptake within naturally occuring minerals and native subsurface bacteria. This first part will describe methods to control the redox chemistry of uranium by modification of its coordination environment.<sup> </sup>Secondly, characterising the distinctive emission profile of uranium(IV) and uranyl(VI) in solution and sorbed to mineral phases. Finally, confocal fluorescence microscopy of bacteria to show uranium uptake, bioreduction, and, thus, immobilisation . This aims to provide a complementary monitoring technique for areas surrounding nuclear waste reprocessors.

Controlling the coordination environment of uranium to enable spectroscopic identification for microscopy analysis

2019 Spring National Meeting

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