Radiolytic Reduction of Pu Solutions

The alpha particles emitted in the decay of Pu supply enough energy to the medi- 

Rabideau et al. confirmed the above qualitative results concerning the relative rates of HCIO4 and HCl reduction and found that the situation is complicated by the production of Cl in HCIO4 solutions and CI2 in HCl solutions. Also, if Br is added to HCIO4 solutions, a net oxidation instead of reduction occurs if the mean oxidation number is initially approximately 4. 

Pages and Pages and Haissinsky found that the rate of reduction depended very strongly on the nature of the anion in a study of external gamma-radiation induced reduction of PufVI). The rates of reduction decreased in the order CIO4 = SO4 Cl NO3. These results presumably also apply to auto-reduction 

Popov et al. on the other hand found only oxidation by irradiation of HNO3. solutions of Pu with external x-radiation.. The rate of oxidation decreased with an increase of NO3 and total acidity. 

The lesson to the radiochemist is clear The stated oxidation states of old Pu solutions, particularly low acidity HCIO and H2SO4 solutions, should be viewed with suspicion. 

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