Spectroscopic and structural characterization of reduced technetium species in acetate media

The reduction of ammonium pertechnetate by sodium borohydride in 0.1 M NaOH/glacial acetic acid has been studied. The reduction products (solids and solutions) have been characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-dispersive X-ray emission spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. UV-Visible spectra of the solution, after reduction, exhibit bands at 350 and 500 nm that have been attributed to the formation of polymeric Tc(IV) species. SEM/EDS on the solid (X-ray amorphous) indicates the absence of metallic Tc and the presence of oxygen. EXAFS measurements further indicate that the precipitate exhibits a [Tc(mu-O)(2)Tc] core structure. XANES is consistent with the formation of Tc(III) and/or Tc(IV). Results infer that reduction of aqueous Tc(VII) by borohydride in the presence of acetic acid does not produce metallic Tc, but a mixture of various oxidation states of Tc near Tc(III) and Tc(IV).