Syntheses and spectroscopic characterization of uranium(VI) silicate minerals

In this study, the secondary uranium(VI) silicate minerals boltwoodite, sodium boltwoodite and uranophane were synthesized. Sodium boltwoodite was successfully obtained by the following new reaction procedure. Their analytical characterization was carried out by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis combined with thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the fluorescence behaviour was measured using time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy. Herewith, the fluorescence properties of the three silicious uranyl phases were determined at room temperature.