Determination of the stability constants of uranyl/polymer complexes by differential pulse polarography

Differential pulse polarography (DPP) allows for the determination of the s tability constants (K) and the stoichiometry (n) for the complexation of th e UO22+ ion by various monomers and the parent polymers. The experimental o bservation is the shift of the totally reversible reduction wave UO22+ + e( -) reversible arrow UO2+ toward more cathodic potentials when the complexin g monomer or polymer is added to an uranyl nitrate aqueous solution. This s hift is, however, much greater when the polymer is used rather than the mon omer, in line with a higher stability of the complexes (K-polymer much grea ter than K-monomer), A theoretical stability scale of the polymers/UO22+ co mplexes was compared to an experimental one based on dynamic leaching tests . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.