Thermodynamics of formation of coffinite, USiO4.

ABSTRACT: Coffinite, USiO4, is an important U(IV) mineral, but its thermodynamic properties are not well-constrained. In this work, two different coffinite samples were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and purified from a mixture of products. The enthalpy of formation was obtained by high-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry. Coffinite is energetically metastable with respect to a mixture of UO2 (uraninite) and SiO2 (quartz) by 25.6 ± 3.9 kJ/mol. Its standard enthalpy of formation from the elements at 25 °C is -1,970.0 ± 4.2 kJ/mol. Decomposition of the two samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction and by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry coupled with mass spectrometric analysis of evolved gases. Coffinite slowly decomposes to U3O8 and SiO2 starting around 4

SUBMITTER: Guo X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4450415 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature