APPLICATION OF CHEMOMETRIC METHODS IN UV-VIS ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPICSTUDIES OF URANYL-ION DIMERIZATION REACTION IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

Factor analysis and self modeling were used as new methodologies to in vestigate uv-vis absorption spectra of uranyl (0.08 M) aqueous solutio ns (pH = 3.16, at the ambient temperature) as a function of temperatur e (8 degrees C-75 degrees C). The study indicated that the above syste m can be described as a two-component system involving equilibrium bet ween UO22+ and (UO2)(2)(OH)(2)(2+). The pure spectrum for the dimeric species is extracted from the broad overlapping features via a self-mo deling method. In addition, this method allows spectrophotometric dete rmination of the reaction enthalpy for the dimerization reaction.