DISSOLVED URANYL COMPLEXED SPECIES IN ARTIFICIAL SEAWATER

The distribution of dissolved uranyl species was calculated on the basis of the stability constants published elsewhere and compared with the results obtained from the experiments performed in artificial seawater. According to the distributions calculated and electrochemical and spectrophotometrical measurements performed in model electrolytes and artificial seawater (pH = 8.2) in the presence of sufficient hydrogen peroxide, uranium most probably predominates in the form of a mixed uranyl-dicarbonato-hydrogenperoxo complex. The results obtained could be applied to the natural marine photic zone. The mixed complex has to be taken into account as an additional form of dissolved uranium species influencing their cycle in natural water systems. Recent discovery of the presence of hydrogen peroxide in the surface waters of seas has challenged a long-held notion of the prevalence of uranyl-carbonato complexes in seawater.