Determination of nucleation and crystal growth kinetics in hostile environment -: Application to the tetravalent uranium oxalate U(C2O4)2•6H2O

A specific apparatus and an original batch method are developed for, respectively, nucleation and crystal growth rate measurements in a hostile environment, such as glove box. Primary nucleation and crystal growth kinetic rates for uranium oxalate are measured over a wide range of temperatures and solution concentrations. The nucleation rate obeys the Volmer-Weber equation, with activation energies of 182 kJ.mol(-1) for the homogeneous nucleation and 102 kJ.mol(-1) for the heterogeneous one. The crystal growth rate is first order with respect to the supersaturation and controlled by a surface integration mechanism, characterized by a 29 kJ.mol-1 activation energy.