Speciation studies of uranyl(VI) using combined theoretical and luminescence spectroscopic methods

Continuous wave luminescence spectra of uranyl(VI) hydrolysis were analyzed using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Distribution patterns of five major species were thereby derived under a fixed uranyl concentration (10-5 M) over a wide pH range from 2 to 11. UV (180 nm to 370 nm) excitation spectra were extracted for individual species. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations revealed ligand excitation (water, hydroxo, oxo) in this region and ligand-to-metal charge transfer responsible for luminescence. Thus excitation in the UV is extreme ligand sensitive and highly specific.