Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical has been used to investigate the behaviour of neptunium (VI) in 1∼8 M HNO3 solutions. The electrochemical reactions of Np(VI) ions were found to occur quasi-reversibly. The formal redox potentials (E°) for Np(VI)/Np(V) couples were determined to be +0.906, +0.908, +0.909, +0.902, +0.896, +0.895, +0.888, and +0.884 V ( vs . Ag/AgCl) for Np(VI) ions in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 M HNO3 solutions, respectively. The reduction processes of Np(VI) ions were followed spectroelectrochemically by using an optical transparent thin layer electrode cell. It was found that the absorption spectra measured at the applied potentials from +1.10 to +0.60 V versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode redox couple for Np(VI) in HNO3 solution have clear isosbestic points. These results indicate that the only reduction product of Np(VI) is Np(V), which is of considerable stability in HNO3 solutions.
Print ISSN: 0033-8230
Volume: 93, 12/2005
Pages: 767 - 770