Heterogeneous water radiolysis in the presence of uranyl silicate

Abstract

Uranyl silicates with different contents of uranyl are synthesized. For comparison, the radiationcatalytic activities of uranyl silicate with 10% of uranium and initial silicate are studied in the process of radiolytic decomposition of water. Heterogeneous water radiolysis is investigated in the adsorbed and liquid states in contact with uranyl silicate and silicate samples. The effect of the uranyl cations, water state, and process temperature on the yield of molecular hydrogen is revealed. Mechanisms of heterogeneous water radiolysis involving the samples of uranyl silicate and silicate under study are suggested.