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Solid solution formation in the metatorbernite metazeunerite (Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2-x(AsO4)x.nH2O) and their stability under conditions of variable temperature

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posted on 2019-03-05, 11:42 authored by Joanna Kulaszewska, Sandie DannSandie Dann, Peter Warwick, Caroline Kirk

Mineral phases which can be thought of as members of a metatorbernite–metazeunerite solid solution (Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2−x(AsO4)x.8H2O have been identified in radioactive samples from spoil heaps at the uranium mine site in South Terras, Cornwall (grid reference SW935523). A complete solid solution (0 < x < 2) was synthesized by precipitation from solution using uranium (VI) nitrate and copper (II) chloride and phosphoric acid/arsenic acid in the appropriate molar proportions. Refined unit cell parameters determined by Pawley fitting of powder X-ray diffraction data showed a linear variation in the a unit cell parameter according to Vegard's Law, allowing the composition of the natural mineral phases found at South Terras to be determined from measurement of their unit cell parameters. High-resolution variable-temperature synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction studies were carried out at the Diamond Light Source on three members of this solid solution (x = 0, 1, 2) and showed different structural behaviour as a function of composition and temperature. Metatorbenite (x = 0) retains its tetragonal symmetry at low temperatures and dehydrates to an amorphous phase at 473 K, whereas metazeunrite (x = 2) transforms to an orthorhombic phase at low temperatures, regains its tetragonal symmetry on heating to 323 K and undergoes a further transition to an, as yet, unidentified phase at 473 K.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fifty years of synchrotron science: achievements and opportunities’.

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Environment Council (NE/L000202/1) through a studentship for JK and STFC for funding the Diamond Light Source beamtime (EE15103).

History

School

  • Science

Department

  • Chemistry

Published in

Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

Citation

KULASZEWSKA, J.M. ... et al., 2019. Solid solution formation in the metatorbernite metazeunerite (Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2-x(AsO4)x.nH2O) and their stability under conditions of variable temperature. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 377: 20180242.

Publisher

The Royal Society

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This work is made available according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Acceptance date

2019-01-31

Publication date

2019-04-29

Notes

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences and the definitive published version will be available at https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2018.0242

ISSN

1364-503X

Language

  • en

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