Depolymerization of Pu(IV) Polymer in 0.5-3 M HNO3 in the Presence of Reductants and Oxidants

Methods of depolymerization of polymeric Pu(IV) in 0.5-3 M HNO3 in the presence of reductants [hydroquinone, H2O2, hydroxylamine, U(IV)] and oxidants [KMnO4, H2O2 + Fe(NO3)3, Na2S2O8 + catalysts, Co(III)] were studied. The ratios of various oxidation states and complex species of plutonium in such systems were determined by electronic absorption spectroscopy. A mechanism of depolymerization of Pu(IV) by sodium persulfate in 0.5-3 M HNO3 in the presence of Co(II) salts was proposed. The stepwise stability constant of the PuO2SO4 complex K1 was estimated.