Chemical after-effects of nuclear transformations in Sn(IV) complexes: A Moessbauer spectroscopic and radiochemical study

Chemical after effects of radiative thermal neutron capture were investigated in HSnDTPA, NaSnDTPA and SnEDTA. The retention in each complex, relative to 113Sn and 117mSn was constant up to neutron fluence of 7.2x1016 n cm-2. Moessbauer absorption spectra, recorded at 78 K exhibit an additional quadrupole doublet with δ=+3.35 mm s-1 and ΔEq=1.67 mm s-1 attributable to Sn+2 species. 60Co γ-irradiation produced similar species. X-ray diffraction patterns of reactor irradiated samples showed an almost complete loss of crystallinity. The possible role of thermal neutrons in the macroscopic radiation damage is discussed. (orig.)