Mechanochemical synthesis of crystalline U(vi) triperoxide solids

Mechanochemical reactivity of uranium trioxide (UO3) in the presence of solid metal peroxides resulted in the formation of crystalline uranyl triperoxide phases, m(30)-UO3-Li2O2 and m(15)-UO3-Na2O2. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of m(30)-UO3-Li2O2 and m(15)-UO3-Na2O2 corresponded to [UO2(O-2)(3)](12)[(UO2(OH)(4))Li-16(H2O)(28)](3)center dot Li-6[H2O](26) and Na-4[UO2(O-2)(3)]center dot 9H(2)O compounds, respectively. Recrystallization of the solid phases in water after grinding resulted in the formation of uranyl carbonate mineral phases, such as cejkaite Na-4[UO2(CO3)(3)]. This study demonstrated the first solvent-free synthetic pathway to uranyl triperoxide solids that avoid generation of radioactive liquid waste.

Automated summary

A solvent-free synthetic pathway to uranyl triperoxide solids was demonstrated by reacting uranium trioxide with solid metal peroxides, resulting in the formation of crystalline uranyl triperoxide phases, m(30)-UO3-Li2O2 and m(15)-UO3-Na2O2.