Chemical Behaviour of Tc (IV) Complexes under Alpha Irradiation in Chloride Media

Abstract

In order to study the stability of Tc (IV) complexes in chloride media under alpha radiation produced by a cyclotron, an electrochemical cell was developed. In this cell, the stability of TcCl₆^2-, TcCl₅ (H₂O) ^-, Tc₂OCl₁₀^4-, Tc_nO_y ^{(4n-2y) +} and TcO₂. xH₂O were studied in 3 M chloride media with a pH range from 0.3 to 2.5. The stability of a (TcCl₆^2-/TcCl₅ (H₂O) -/Tc₂OCl₁₀^4-) mixture was also investigated during alpha irradiation under a constant current. These studies showed that TcCl₆^2- is a very stable compound whereas chloro-oxygenated compounds were oxidized to Tc (VII). Consequently, the relative stabilities of the Tc (IV) complexes in 3 M chloride media under alpha irradiation was determined.