Uranium Speciation in Glass Corrosion Layers: an XAFS Study

Abstract

ABSTRACTUranium L3X-ray absorption data were obtained from two borosilicate glasses, which are considered as models for radioactive wasteforms, both before and after leaching. Surface sensitivity to uranium speciation was attained by a novel application of simultaneous fluorescence and electron-yield detection. Changes in speciation are clearly discernible, from U(VI) in the bulk to (UO2)2+-uranyl in the corrosion layer. The uranium concentrations within the corrosion layer also show variations with leaching times that can be determined from the data.