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A.G. Sowder, Sue B. Clark, R.A. Fjeld
Dehydration of synthetic autunite hydrates
The dehydration of uranyl minerals can affect phase structure and stability. Synthetic autunite hydrates, Ca[(UO2)(PO4)]2 · × H2O, were studied by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to address ambiguous or contradictory reports in the literature. Structurally, XRD analysis supported the three well-defined phases commonly reported in the literature, i.e. autunite, metaautunite I, and metaautunite II. In addition, a fourth phase with a basal plane spacing between that of autunite and metaautunite I, designated metaautunite Ia, was identified as an apparent metastable intermediate. TGA analysis confirmed that water loss or accumulation is tolerated to different degrees among the autunite hydrates. Loss of low temperature water appears to initiate collapse of the interlayer spacing from 10 to 9 Å to form metaautunite I and/or Ia, while the lower hydrates accommodate minor water loss and accumulation without significant structural alteration. Our results support previous research indicating the reversibility of the autunite to metaautunite I conversion. The complex dehydration pattern of autunite is not observed in all the 1:1 uranyl phosphates, such as chernikovite (H[(UO2)(PO4)] · 4 H2O).
Radiochimica Acta, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag
Print ISSN: 0033-8230
Volume: 88, 09/2000
Pages: 533