Dissolution of uranium oxides under alkaline oxidizing conditions

Bench scale experiments were conducted to determine the dissolution characteristics of UO2, U3O8, and UO3 in aqueous peroxide-containing carbonate solutions. The experimental parameters investigated included carbonate countercation (NH4 +, Na+, K+, and Rb+) and H2O2 concentration. The carbonate countercation had a dramatic influence on the dissolution behavior of UO2 in 1 M carbonate solutions containing 0.1 M H2O2, with the most rapid dissolution occurring in (NH4)2CO3 solution. The initial dissolution rate (y) of UO2 in 1 M (NH4)2CO3 increased linearly with peroxide concentration (x) ranging from 0.05 to 2 M according to: y = 2.41x + 1.14. The trend in initial dissolution rates for the three U oxides under study was UO3 ≫ U3O8 > UO2.