REACTION OF PU(VII) WITH CERTAIN ALIPHATIC-ALCOHOLS IN BASIC-MEDIA

The kinetics of Pu(VII) reduction by methanol and ethanol in 0.5-5.0 M NaOH are studied by spectrophotometry. The rate constants of the studied reactions are calculated. The rate constants increase in concert with the reductant concentration but sharply decrease with increasing base concentration in the reaction medium. The principal factor affecting the rate of Pu(VII) reduction by alcohols is probably steric in nature. Secondary alcohols are more active in basic medium. The resulting experimental data also confirm the very strong oxidizing capability of Pu(VII), the rate of reduction of which by CH3OH or C2H5OH compared with Np(VII) under similar conditions is 20-50 times faster.