Abstract

The influence of the sample morphology and experimental conditions towards the sonochemical dissolution of nanoscale ThO2 samples in sulfuric acid media is described. Significant sonochemical dissolution rates and yields are observed at 20 kHz under Ar/O2 atmosphere in dilute 0.5 M H2SO4 at room temperature, contrasting with the generally-reported high refractory behavior for ThO2. The dissolution of ThO2 combines the physical effects driven by acoustic cavitation phenomenon, the complexing affinity of Th(IV) in sulfuric medium and the sonochemical generation of H2O2. These sonochemical conditions further allow the observation of the partial conversion of ThO2 into a scarce Th(IV) peroxo sulfate with 1D morphology resulting from one or both following processes: dissolution/reprecipitation or formation of an intermediate Th(IV) surface complex.

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