X-ray scattering techniques determine how dissolved metal ions interact
in solution
ARGONNE, Ill. (April 12, 2007) — Researchers at the Department of Energy's
Argonne National Laboratory and the University
of Notre Dame have successfully
applied X-ray scattering techniques to determine how dissolved metal ions interact
in solution.
These findings will help researchers better understand how metal ions, such
as those found in nuclear waste and other industrial processes, behave in the
environment.
The results show that the ion structures are visible in solution and reveals
their interactions with other ions.
"The scientific community has long asked the question,'What happens
to a metal ion in solution?'” said Suntharalingam “Skantha” Skanthakumar, Argonne
senior scientific associate. "Direct measurement of metal correlations
in solutions show long-range interactions and a strong correspondence to the
structures in solution and solid state environment."
"We have been provided with additional structural and chemical insight
into tetravalent actinide hydrolysis," said Lynda Soderholm, senior scientist
and group leader in Argonne's Chemistry
Division. "We
discovered that the way atoms interact is transferable with a lot more detail
than what was previously thought. Hydrolysis of dissolved metal ions is one
of the most fundamental and important reactions in aqueous chemistry.”
Experiments for this work were conducted at Argonne's Advanced
Photon Source (APS). The 1,104-meter circumference APS accelerator complex, large enough
to encircle a baseball stadium, houses a complex of machines and devices that
produce, accelerate and store a beam of electrons that is the source of the
APS X-rays. For this research, thin beams of high-energy X-rays were used to
bombard the dissolved ions. When the X-rays scattered off the solutions, special
CCD cameras equipped to detect them mapped out their two-dimensional pattern.
The detailed results of these findings were published in the paper "Structures
of Dimeric Hydrolysis Products of Thorium" and in the journal Inorganic
Chemistry.
"Going forward, additional research is planned with thorium and other
dissolvable materials across the periodic table," said Argonne postdoctoral
researcher Richard E. Wilson. "The goal is to be able to predict reactions
to metal contaminants and determine the chemistry that influences their transport
in the environment"
This research involved collaborations from various scientific disciplines
including input from physicists, chemists and geologists. Collaborators on
this research were Richard E. Wilson, S. Skanthakumar, and Lynda Soderholm
from Argonne, and Peter Burns and Ginger Sigmon from the University of Notre
Dame.
Funding for this project was provided by DOE's Office of Basic
Energy Sciences,
and Division of Chemical
Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.
The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic
and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne
researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities,
and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific
problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for
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Argonne, LLC for
the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please
contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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