Uranyl compounds uranium leaching

One site of deposition for the soluble compounds (uranyl nitrate, uranium tetrachloride, uranium hexafluoride) in animals was the skeleton, but accumulation was not seen in bone at levels below 0.25 mg U/m over a period of 2 years in rats exposed to soluble compounds (uranyl nitrate, uranium tetrachloride, uranium hexafluoride) in one study. The insoluble compounds (uranium hexafluoride, uranium dioxide) were found to accumulate in the lungs and lymph nodes after the inhalation exposure. For uranyl nitrate exposure, no retention was found in the soft tissues. Accumulation of uranium was also found in the skeleton (Stokinger 1953). The amount distributed in the skeleton has been reported to be 23 5% of the intake in dogs (Morrow et al. 1972) 28-78% in rats (Leach et al. 1984) and 34-43% in guinea pigs (Leach et al. 1984). A biological half-time of 150-200 days (Ballou et al. 1986) or 70 days (Morrow et al. 1982) in the skeleton has been reported following inhalation exposure to soluble uranium compounds (e.g., uranium hexafluoride). 

The pulmonary toxicity of uranium compounds varies in animals. Reports of pulmonary toxicity in animals after acute-duration exposure to uranium are limited to experiments with uranium hexafluoride. Gasping and severe irritation to the nasal passages were reported after 10 minute exposures at 637 mg U/mg in rats and mice (Spiegl 1949) and nasal hemorrhage in rats after a 5 minute exposure to 54,503 mg/m (Leach et al. 1984). Uranium hexafluoride promptly hydrolyzes on contact with water to uranyl fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. Thus, the animals were potentially exposed to hydrofluoric acid, a potent toxicant to respiratory tract epithelium, which probably contributed to pulmonary tissue destruction (Leach et al. 1984 Spiegl 1949 Stokinger et al. 1953). In addition, exposure to fluoride ions can result in hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, pulmonary edema, metabolic acidosis, ventricular arrhythmia, and death (Meditext 1998). 

Uranyl carbonate complexes, like sodium uranyl tricarbonate, Na4[U02(C03>3], that is obtained when uranium ore is leached with sodium carbonate solutions and ammonium uranyl carbonate (AUC), (NH4)4[U02(C03)3l, that is used to precipitate the uranium in the UCF, are important in the NFC. These carbonates serve to purify the uranium from several metals (like Fe, Al, Cr, Ni, and other metals) that are precipitated as hydroxides or oxycarbonates, as well as aUcaline-earth elements. These purification methods utilize the effect of the ammonium carbonate concentration on the solubility of uranium. Upon heating of AUC to 300°C-500°C, it decomposes to UO3, ammonia, CO2, and water and at temperatures of 700°C-800°C, without air, UO2 may be formed (the ammonia serves as the reducing agent). The solubility of AUC decreases markedly in the presence of ammonium carbonate, for example, from 119.3 g L" at 50°C without ammonium carbonate to 0.5 g L" with 35% ammonium carbonate (Galkin 1966). The carbonate complexes also play a role in biological systems and affect clearance by the blood after exposure to uranium compounds. 

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