ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF URANIUM IN IONIC ORGANIC MEDIA - ETHYLAMMONIUM NITRATE AND ACETAMIDE - KSCN EUTECTIC

The electrochemical reduction of hexavalent and tetravalent uranium is investigated in ethylammonium nitrate at 298 K and in the acetamide-K SCN eutectic at 400 K. The transient techniques describe a two-step re duction of UO22+ in acetamide-KSCN while only one step is observed in ethylammonium nitrate. The reduction of tetravalent uranium proceeds i n one step giving trivalent uranium in the two media. In any cases, ad ditional kinetic phenomena are the source of difficulties for the unde rstanding of the reactions. In controlled potential electrolysis, side -reactions between the reduced species and the solvent impede complete ly the mechanism foreseen by transient methods.