OXIDATION OF AM(III) IN CARBONATE BICARBONATE SOLUTION BY SODIUM PERXENATE

The oxidation of Am(III) by Na4XeO6 in KHCO3, KHCO3 + K2CO3, and K2CO3 solution is studied by spectrophotometry. In 1.5 solutions (HCO3- + C O32-) with perxenate concentrations comparable to those of Am, Am(III) is quickly converted to a mixture of Am(IV) + Am(V) + Am(VI). lit con centrated K2CO3 solutions (5.9 M), Am(III) is in general not oxidized by perxenate. A mechanism is proposed for the oxidation of Am(III) by perxenate that includes the reaction of Am(III) with Xe(VIII) and poss ibly with Xe(VI). The reaction of Na4XeO6 and Am(IV) was also investig ated. In this instance Am(IV) was quickly converted to Am(V) and Am(VI ).