1. Electrochemical oxidation of 243 Am(III) in nitric acid by a terpyridyl-derivatized electrode
- Author
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Alexander M. Lapides, Thomas J. Meyer, Christopher J. Dares, and Bruce J. Mincher
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_classification ,Multidisciplinary ,Inorganic chemistry ,Oxide ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Americium ,Electrochemistry ,Coordination complex ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Nitric acid ,Saturated calomel electrode ,Electrode ,Terpyridine - Abstract
High fives and sixes for Americium ions You've probably heard of uranium and plutonium. Americium (Am) is less widely discussed outside chemistry circles, but the separation of this heavier radioactive element from nuclear waste streams is a major goal of fuel reprocessing research. The trouble is that trivalent Am ions are hard to tease apart from similarly charged lanthanide ions. Dares et al. now show that terpyridyl ligands appended to an electrode can promote the oxidation of trivalent Am ions to the pentavalent and hexavalent states (see the Perspective by Soderquist). These more highly charged ions should be easier to isolate for the subsequent use of the Am in next-generation nuclear reactors. Science , this issue p. 652 ; see also p. 635
- Published
- 2015
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