On the issue of comparing the immobilization characteristics of matrix materials based on Nb–Ta–Ti-oxides of the types AB2O6 and A2B2O7

Abstract

In the study presented here, the initial (that is, before the start of the process of natural hydrochemical influence) mineral formula of metamict polycrase in the composition of granite pegmatites of the Baltic Shield, applying an uranium natural half-leaching period, was calculated. To investigate the characteristics of immobilization of actinides in the studied polycrase, the absolute and relative uranium contents are compared with the corresponding uranium contents in the original betafite of the same deposit and age. It has been shown that over its geological history, betafite has lost up to 80% of its original uranium content. The proportion of uranium preserved in polycrase is twice as high. It is concluded that the difference in the relative content of uranium (27.3 wt% in polycrase and 31.6 wt% in betafite) cannot be the only reason for the complete oxidation of uranium in betafite, given that in polycrase 30% of uranium is preserved in the tetravalent state. It is more likely that the oxidation of uranium in betafite was primarily a result of the low ionicity of the chemical bonds compared to that in polycrase. This allows us to consider minerals of the euxenite group to be quite promising as matrix materials for the immobilization of actinides. At the same time, an opinion was expressed on the advisability of further comparative studies of Nb-Ta-Ti-oxides of the mineral groups AB 2 O 6 and A 2 B 2 O 7 for their use at the final stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. Keywords Isolation of actinides, Mineral-like matrices, Minerals of the euxenite and pyrochlore groups, Hydrochemical weathering processes, Uranium half-leaching period, Initial elemental composition of the mineral