Reaction mechanisms of the thermal conversion of Pu(IV) oxalate into plutonium oxide

During the oxalic conversion of plutonium into oxide at the end of the PUREX process, the thermal transition of Pu(IV) oxalate into oxide plays a significant role leading to the main properties of the oxide. The structure of the solid intermediates is often speculative and the reaction mechanisms are quite misunderstood and divergent from one study to another. This work deals with a detailed structural investigation on the main solid intermediates encountered when calcining Pu(IV) oxalate into oxide under air or argon. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.