Determination of U-oxidation states in the brannerite structure by electron energy-loss (EELS), x-ray photoelectron (XPS) and diffuse reflectance (DRS) spectroscopies.

Titanate based ceramics (synroc) have received considerable interest as suitable matrices for the immobilisation of high-level nuclear waste (HLW). Actinide-bearing phases, such as zirconolite and pyrochlore, have been extensively studied. Brannerite (ideally UTi2O6) is a minor phase in titanate ceramics specifically targeted for the immobilisation of actinide-rich, plutonium-bearing nuclear wastes. As brannerite contains 62.8 wt% UO2 it can account for a significant fraction of the total amount of actinides in the waste form.