Study on the effects of sonication on reactive precipitation of ammonium uranyl carbonate from pure uranyl nitrate solution

In the present work, the influence of sonication on the reactive precipitation of ammonium uranyl carbonate (AUC) was investigated. Experiments were performed between uranyl nitrate pure solution (UNPS) and ammonium carbonate solution in a stirred vessel with ultrasound horn of 35 KHz. The prepared AUC powder was characterised by laser diffraction particle size analysis, surface area analysis, XRD, SEM, FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy. It was found that ultrasonic irradiation increases the precipitation kinetics and modifies the morphology of the crystals produced. The mean particle size was decreased with the increase in ultrasonic power and powders with more surface area are obtained at higher intensity ultrasound power. SEM study reveals more uniform and regular prismatic crystals of AUC during sonication compared to silent conditions. XRD results also indicate more crystalline powder of AUC in sonochemical mode compared to that prepared by conventional precipitation methods. Thus, the sonochemical technique suggested an improved quality of the precipitate of AUC in terms of physical morphology, surface area, crystallinity and homogeneity amenable for downstream process steps for the fuel preparation methods. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, the influence of sonication on the reactive precipitation of ammonium uranyl carbonate (AUC) was investigated. It was found that sonication increases precipitation kinetics, modifies crystal morphology, decreases particle size, and produces powders with more surface area. Sonication also leads to more uniform and regular crystals compared to silent conditions, and results in a more crystalline powder of AUC. This sonochemical technique shows improved quality of AUC precipitates in terms of physical morphology, surface area, crystallinity, and homogeneity.