XAS signatures of Am(III) adsorbed onto magnetite and maghemite

Trivalent americium was adsorbed on magnetite and maghemite under similar chemical conditions and the local environment probed by EXAFS spectroscopy. In both samples, partially hydrated Am(III) binds the surface but slightly different surface complexes were identified. On Fe₃O₄, Am(III) forms monomeric tridentate surface complexes similar to that reported for Pu(III) at the (111) surface. In contrast, the lower number of detected Fe atoms may suggest that Am(III) forms monomeric bidentate surface complexes on γ-Fe₂O₃. Alternatively, the lower Fe coordination number can also be due to the presence of vacancies in maghemite. XPS data imply very similar binding environments for Am at both Fe oxide surfaces.