Summary for uranium plating solution Discussion
Uranium plating solution is discussed mainly in the context of alpha spectrometry sample preparation, not general shop plating. Tom H asked for a bath formula for uranium-238 and a consultant, and Waldemar Tomankiewicz replied with a specific laboratory bath: ammonium oxalate, ammonium chloride, hydroxylamine, DTPA, a uranium compound solution, water, stainless-steel cathode, platinum anode, and pH around 3.5 adjusted with HCl. He emphasized that the uranium compound must be pure and free of other metal ions such as iron. James Watts added a strong safety warning that U238 is radioactive and requires proper protection and NRC permission. Later, Waldemar clarified that the method is for environmental research and alpha spectroscopy of actinide-containing samples. In 2008 and 2011, other posters asked about plating uranium onto copper and were told to use ammonium chloride solution, dissolve the sample in dilute HCl, and add concentrated NH4OH before shutting off current to avoid redissolving uranium.
Q. Does anyone out there have any suggestions for a plating bath consisting of Uranium 238? I know that it can be electrodeposited, but I’m not sure what Uranium compound works the best. I have checked the Internet and come up with nothing. We would also be interested in a consultant that knows the metal. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tom H [last name deleted for privacy as need is not current]
electroplating – Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
2003
2003
A. Uranium 238 (Actinide) one can separate, as the source for the alpha spectrometry research, with galvanic method. You need pure uranium compound – solution (no other metal ionic, for instance Fe). Bath composition for 1L:
Ammonium oxalate 30 g
Ammonium chloride 50 g
Hydroxylamine 1g
1,1,4,7,7-Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] – DTPA 3,3 ml
uranium compound ? solution (trace-mixes)
Water for 1L
Cathode – stainless steel Anode ? Platinum electrode
PH=3,5 (pH corrected with HCl conc. ) , current I=0,65 A/cm2
(centimeter2).
Best regards,
Waldemar Tomankiewicz
– Cracow, Poland
!! U238 is radioactive. How do you propose to protect yourself or others. Note that you need to be permitted by the NRC. Their enforcement makes EPA and IRS look like lap cats.
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
2003
A. It is a method for environmental research in the Environment Laboratory for measurements of alpha radiation by means of alpha spectroscopy. (for samples containing actinides – for example soil samples).
Regards,
Waldemar Tomankiewicz
– Cracow, Poland
2003
Q. Hi, how do I electroplate Uranium 238 anodes onto copper plates? What is the composition of the chemicals in the electrolyte bath, and the proper current requirements?
Please do let me know how to do this. Thank you!
Brian
Brian Charles
hobbyist – Matthews, North Carolina
July 26, 2008
A. Use 5 % NH4Cl solution. Dissolve sample in 0.1N HCl. I am plating Uranium right now for Alpha Spectrometry. Don’t worry about pH it can be a little acid. Important to add conc. NH4OH to electrolyte before shutting off current or you will redissolve U.
CURTIS MCKINNEY
– MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA
March 16, 2011
Is 316SS suitable for uranium liquor with chlorides and sulphates?
Q. [1] IS SS 316 SUITABLE FOR URANIUM LIQUOR CONTAING 38 GM/LTR OF CHLORIDE ION AND 30 GM/LTR OF SULPHATE ION?
[2] WHICH METAL AND RUBBER IS SUITABLE FOR sulfurIC ACID VAPOUR AT 100 °C? THE CLIENT NEEDS VALVES.B K MODI
corrosion resistant valve manufacturers – INDIA
June 21, 2016
A. You might need platinum plated anodes. They are insoluble in almost everything but concentrated aqua regia. They usually plate 250-500 microinches of platinum from a solution of dinitroplatinite sulphate. The substrate niobium, colombium or titanium can be used. In order to get the platinum from a DNS solution is to etch the titanium in concentrated (boiling) HCl. I think the temperatures I used was 185 °F. The acid boils at that temperature. YOU NEED A FUME EXHAUSTER! The fumes are not too bad, but it should be under a hood or exhaust set up around the tank. Right from etching the titanium in HCl, it goes directly into the DNS platinum solution and is electroplated to specs. If you rinse the titanium between the etch cycle and the platinum tank, the metal will protect itself and form titanium oxide. Eventually you have to kill the tank from Ti contamination and reclaim the platinum. Then make a new electrolyte. The DNS can be made by dissolving platinum metal in nitric and sulfuric acid. It is a liquid dark brown platinum compound/solution. Cool chemistry!
Tom Hendry
– Fort Wayne, Indiana
August 18, 2020