Sorption of Co, Cs, Sr and I onto argillaceous rock as studied by radiotracers</p> </p>

Summary Sorption of⁶⁰Co,⁸⁵Sr, 137Cs and¹²⁵I have been studied on samples originated from Boda (siltstone-) claystone formation (BCF) (Hungary). The distribution of K_dvalues have been determined in static batch experiments using natural groundwater. The order of sorption of isotopes was Co>Cs>Sr>I, where iodine exhibits sorption properties in a modest extent. The sorption isotherm was determined for Cs from measurements carried out in 10^-5-10^-1M initial concentration range. The isotherm can be described with non-linear Freundlich approximation in the range of</o:p></p> 10^-7-10^-4M equilibrium concentration. At concentrations >10^-2M the isotherm achieves saturation. Hence, it is suggested that sorption of Cs on BCF is dominated by cation-exchange reactions on the illite mineral component. In the case of Co and Sr, precipitation reactions occurred during the experiments performed with carrier-containing solutions. This can be attributed to the low values of solubility product constants of SrCO₃, SrSO₄and Co(OH)₂, formed from anions present in the natural groundwater.</p> </p>     

Selective separation of uranium using trimethylammonium acetosalycoylhydrazone modified Duolite C20 resin</p> </p>

Summary Duolite C20 resin modified with trimethylammonium acetosalycoylhydrazone has been developed, for the selective separation and/or preconcentration of uranium. The modified resin was characterized by elemental analysis and infrared spectra. Batch and column modes were applied. The newly designed resin quantitatively sorbs uranium ion at pH 3 when the flow rate equals to 2 ml ^. min ^-1 . The sorption capacity was 0.750 mmol ^. g^-1 for uranium ion, whereas its preconcentration factor was 200. The lower limit of detection was 5 ng ^. ml^-1 and its desorption was effective with 5 ml of 3 mol ^. l^-1 HCl or HNO₃ prior to detection spectrophotometry. The modified resin was highly ion-selective in nature even in the presence of large concentrations of electrolyte or organic media, with a preconcentrating ability for uranium ion. The modified resin was tested on its utility with synthetic, real and certified ore samples, showed RSD values of <2% reflecting the accuracy and reproducibility of the newly modified resin.</p> </p>     

Factors affecting the sorption of Eu(III) on modified silica gel</p> </p>

Summary 8-Hydroxyquinoline in benzene, xylene, chloroform and toluene diluents was used to modify silica gel as a solid phase extractant (SPE) for the sorption of Eu(III) in batch extraction techniques. Influences of solid/liquid ratio, pH, metal ion concentration, particle size and temperature were studied. The optimum initial pH is 4.2, while the maximum sorption capacities for the prepared impregnated resins in benzene, xylene, chloroform and toluene diluents are 18.52, 14.98, 14.79 and 5.94 mg ^. g^-1, respectively. The sorption process is found to be affected by both metal ion concentration and particle size of the impregnated resin. Thermodynamic parameters for the sorption of Eu(III) were determined and the reaction is found to be exothermic and spontaneous with enthalpy-14.23 and-23.71 kJ ^. mol^-1 for benzene and xylene as diluents. Release of the element from the loaded solid particles into 0.01M HNO₃ is@85% and@53% from 8-HQ/benzene/silica gel and 8-HQ/xylene/silica gel.</p> </p>     

Sorption and desorption of UO2 2+, Th4+ and Ru3+ on the synthetic analogue of muscovite</p> </p>

Summary Sorption and desorption of UO₂²⁺, Th⁴⁺ and Ru³⁺ on the synthetic analogue of the mica mineral muscovite has been studied by a batch technique. The synthesized gel was characterized by XRD, EDXRFS, FTIR, TGA and SEM and was found to have a composition K_1.4Al_4.2(Si₆Al₂O₂₀)(OH)₄ ^. 2H₂O. Different parameters like acid concentration, contact time, amount of gel, composition of gel: OPC admixture, effect of temperature, desorption of metal ions from loaded muscovite and effect on crystal morphology due to loading of metal ions were studied. The results has been expressed in terms of distribution coefficient (K_d).</p> </p>     

Preconcentration of 198Au in a green alga, Rhizoclonium</p> </p>

Summary The bioaccumulation of ¹⁹⁸Au radionuclide, by Rhizoclonium riparium a member of Chlorophyceae has been studied. It has been observed that accumulation of gold on Rhizoclonium is almost pH independent and slightly higher at basic pH. Accumulation of gold was studied with ¹⁹⁸Au radiotracer, 0.1, 1 and 5 ppm concentrations of gold. It has been concluded from the biochemical analysis that the gold accumulation is due to adsorption in the cellulose and not in protein, fat and carbohydrate. Accumulated gold was recovered when washed with conc. HNO₃.</p> </p>     

Extraction chromatography of thorium ion by solid phase impregnated resins containing bi-functional organic extractants</p> </p>

Summary Macroporous methyl methacrylate polymeric resin (XAD-7) was investigated incorporating both acidic organophosphorous extractant (cyanex-301) and one neutral extractant from the followings: dibenzo 18 crown 6 (DB18C6), 18 crown 6 (18C6) and 15 crown 5 (15C5). The sorption behavior of the solvent impregnated resin (SIR) towards thorium ion, including batch equilibrium, and kinetic operation are described. Different factors affecting the uptake of metal ions and hence, the separation efficiency of the impregnated resins were investigated. The maximum uptakes of Th⁴⁺ were found to be 62.9, 66.7 and 92.6% for DB18C6, 18C6 and 15C5, respectively. Synergistic extraction of various CE towards thorium ion was tested with cyanex-301 to enhance the sorption capacity as well as the selective separation efficiency. A relatively high capacity of the chelating resin towards tetravalent thorium was found. The capacities of the co-impregnated resins were found to be 2.11, 2.42 and 3.85 mmol/g for DB18C6, 18C6 and 15C5, respectively. The impregnated resin containing cyanex-301 and 15C5 can be utilized for selective separation and pre-concentration of thorium ion from nitrate medium in the presence of several interfering metal ions.</p> </p>     

Recovery of technetium adsorbed on charcoal</p> </p>

Two methods capable of near complete recovery of technetium adsorbed on charcoal are presented. The first involves liquid extraction of the technetium from the charcoal by hot 4M nitric acid. An average recovery of 98% (n=3) is obtained after three rounds of extraction. The second method involves dry ashing with air in a quartz combustion tube at 400-450 °C. This method yields an average recovery of 96% (n=5). Other thermal methods were attempted, but resulted in reduced recovery and incomplete material balance.</p> </p>     

Separation of uranium from thorium on cryptomelane-type hydrous manganese dioxide

The distribution of UO ₂ ²⁺ and Th⁴⁺ in nitric acid media on crypomelane-type hydrous manganese dioxide (CRYMO) has been investigated by batch equilibrations and column break-through techniques. The parameters studied involve the media composition and concentrations of HNO₃, NaNO₃, UO ₂ ²⁺ and Th⁴⁺. It is found that Th⁴⁺ is more strongly adsorbed on CRYMO than UO ₂ ²⁺ with sufficient differences for chromatographic separation from each other. Uranium was quantitatively eluted from a CRYMO column with 0.1M HNO₃. Th⁴⁺ has been recovered by using 1M HNO₃ as eluent.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of 233Pa(V) with Aliquat 336</p> </p>

Summary The extraction of protactinium with Aliquat 336 (methyl-tri-caprylyl ammonium chloride) in toluene, cyclohexane and chloroform from HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, HClO₄, HF and mixed HCl-HF media was investigated by radioactive tracer technique. Distribution ratios of protactinium between the aqueous solution and the organic phase were determined as a function of shaking time, concentrations of acid in aqueous solution phase, extractant concentration and type of diluents in the organic phase. Aliquat 336 can almost quantitatively extract protactinium from strong HCl solution. At the same time, small amounts of HF in HCl solutions have a strong effect on Pa distribution.</p> </p>     

Cs and Sr removal from solution using potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate impregnated zeolites</p> </p>

Summary Potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate, KNiFC, was incorporated in the porous matrix of zeolites by successive impregnation with Ni(NO₃)₂ and</o:p></p> K₄Fe (CN)₆.¹ CFC and PFC exchangers were first prepared by impregnating the potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate into the clinoptilolite and the synthetic P zeolite, respectively. Ion-exchange isotherms and breakthrough curves were plotted. Results showed that the CFC sorbent is suitable for removal of Cs⁺ where PFC is more suitable for Sr²⁺. Negative effect of Na⁺ as a competing ion in these exchangers was less than in the parent zeolites. Isotherm plots fitted the Langmuir equation.</p> </p>     

Exit reactor Thetis/Ghent (1967–2003): A recollection of its significant contribution to NAA and its leading role in the development of the k<Subscript>0</Subscript>-standardization

Resins with monoamides as functional groups have been synthesized and their fundamental adsorption behaviors have been examined for selective recovery of uranium(VI) from nitric acid media. The resins synthesized with porous silica support showed greatly different adsorptions for U(VI) depending on the chemical structures of the functional group. Some resins show little or no adsorption for U(VI) from 0.1 to 6 mol/dm³ HNO₃. While, resins consisting of dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) showed an increasing adsorption with an increasing concentration of HNO³ up to 9 to 12 mol/dm³. Other ions were not found to be adsorbed onto Silica-DMAA under similar solution conditions, which means that the resin is selective for U(VI) in HNO₃ media.     

Strontium isolation from natural samples with Sr resin and subsequent determination of 90Sr</p> </p>

The reliability of an ⁹⁰Sr determination method was tested using an Sr extraction chromatographic resin for strontium isolation. The ⁹⁰Sr-content in samples of vegetables, soil and water (obtained from Environmental Measurement Laboratory, USA) were determined and the results were controlled by classical methods and by using an anion-exchanger and an alcohol solution of nitric acid for the strontium isolation. These methods were previously tested by determining ⁹⁰Sr in IAEA 326 and 327 samples of soil. It is shown that the isolation process with Sr resin is simpler and faster than the classical and mixed solvent anion-exchange methods. The efficiency of isolation on a Sr column depends on the resin quantity and separation conditions; and is the highest with a Sr column, compared to the classical and anion-exchange methods. Experimental data and theoretical models were used to calculate the parameters that enable the estimation of optimum dimensions of the column for isolation. A simple relation is proposed for the calculation of breakthrough volume, which defines the sample and eluent volumes for an optimal strontium isolation.</p> </p>     

Sorption of Co(II) ong-alumina in the presence and absence of fulvic acid</p> </p>

Summary The removal of heavy metal ion Co(II) from aqueous solution was studied usingg-Al₂O₃ by batch technique. The experiments were performed at T=20±2 °C, in 0.01M NaNO₃ solutions and under aerobic conditions. The effect of pH, ionic strength, fulvic acid (FA) and alumina amount on the sorption of Co(II) on alumina were also investigated. The pH affected the sorption of Co(II) significantly as compared with the effect of FA and ionic strength. The results indicated that strong chemical bonds are formed between Co(II) and functional groups of the bare or FA coated alumina, and a precipitation of Co(II) takes place on the alumina surface, induced by a transition from the adsorption to surface. The addition sequences of Co/FA on Co(II) sorption were also studied: the sorption of Co(II) in the ternary system was found independent of addition sequences.</p> </p>     

IR and <Superscript>31</Superscript>P NMR spectroscopic study of complexation of carbamoyl methyl phosphinates with U<Superscript>VI</Superscript> and Th<Superscript>IV</Superscript> in nitric acid solutions

The composition of complexes formed upon the extraction of U^VI and Th^IV nitrates with O-n-nonyl(N,N-dibutylcarbamoylmethyl) methyl phosphinate (L) from solutions of nitric acid without additional solvent was determined by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The structures of the complexes formed were studied by IR spectroscopy. Uranium(VI) is extracted from 3 and 5 M solutions of HNO₃ as the [UO₂(L)₂(NO₃)₂] complex, while thorium(IV) is extracted from 5 M HNO₃ as the [Th(L)₃(NO₃)₃]⁺·NO ₃ ⁻ complex. In both cases, ligand L has bidentate coordination. Ligand L contacts with 3 and 5 M nitric acid to form adducts L·HNO₃ and L· (HNO₃)₂, respectively. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2460–2464, November, 2005.     

Study of variation in thermophysical properties of RE<Subscript>6</Subscript>UO<Subscript>12</Subscript>(s) along the lanthanide series

The novel ligand N,N,N′′′′,N′′′′-tetrabutyl-N′′′,N′′′-(N″,N″-diethyl)-ethidene bisdiglycolamide (TBEE-BisDGA) and other eight analogous extractants have been synthesized and characterized by NMR and HRMS. The solvent extraction of Th⁴⁺, UO₂ ²⁺ and Eu³⁺ from nitric acid solution using the above BisDGA extractants was investigated in 1-dodecanol at 30 ± 1 °C. The extractants exhibited higher affinity toward Th⁴⁺ than UO₂ ²⁺ and Eu³⁺ in the present system. The maximum value of separation factor SF _Th(IV)/U(VI) and SF _{Th(IV)/Eu(III)} is 78.5 and 53.3 respectively for TBEE-BisDGA, 88.1 and 69.5 respectively in the case of TB ^i-PE-BisDGA at 3 M HNO₃ solution.     

Removal of radium from sand filters by inorganic acids</p> </p>

Summary Sand filters are used in water treatment stations to remove particulate matter from underground water, where iron and manganese are collected forming thin oxide films. These oxides of iron and manganese adsorb radium from underground water. Radium concentration increases in time on the filters, and consequently the level of radioactivity increases in the station. The removal of adsorbed radium on sand using inorganic acids was studied. Good efficiency of radium removal was obtained by controlling different parameters like temperature, time, pH, addition of competitive cations and anions. It was found that hydrochloric acid is the best for radium removal from sand filters. Maximum removal obtained was about 60% at 5M BaCl₂ and 2M HCl at 50 °C for 180-minute contact time. Kinetic parameters of the removal process were studied and compared with literature data.</p> </p>     

Extraction chromatographic separation of iron from complex liquid samples and the determination of <Superscript>55</Superscript>Fe

Summary Iron separation is described from liquid samples with a high concentration of ions that enables simple determination of ⁵⁵Fe. One of the described methods consists of iron precipitation from a large volume seawater by sodium hydroxide and/or ammonium carbonate and separation from other elements (Ca, Sr, Cu, Mg, etc.) on a TRU column with 4M HCl or 8M HNO₃. In the other procedure iron is separated directly from a mixture of seawater samples and HCl on a TRU column. In both methods, the iron recovery is almost 100%. After separation, ⁵⁵Fe is determined by counting with a liquid scintillation counter. The binding of Fe and Zn on TEVA, U/TEVA and TRU resins from seawater solutions of HCl and HNO₃depends on the type of the resin, concentration of acid and other ions. Iron and zinc can be separated from seawater on a U/TEVA column with 2M HCl.     

Thermodynamic modeling for the removal of Cs+, Sr2+, Ca2+and Mg2+ions from aqueous waste solutions using zeolite A</p> </p>

Summary The batch removal ofCs⁺, Sr²⁺, Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺ions from aqueous solutions using synthetic zeolite A was investigated. The influence of the initial ion concentration, pH and temperature was studied. The obtained isotherm data have been correlated with Langumir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R) isotherm models. The effect of the temperature on the equilibrium distribution values has been utilized to evaluate the standard thermodynamic parameters such as free energy (DG), enthalpy (DH) and entropy (DS). Based on the D-R isotherm expression, the maximum ion-exchange capacity and the mean free energy of each studied ion has been determined. The selectivity sequence, deduced from the equilibrium isotherm data is: Sr²⁺>Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺>Cs⁺>Na⁺.</p> </p>     

Radiation effects on gaseous iodine at very low concentrations</p> </p>

Summary Exploratory experiments have been carried out to investigate the effects of gamma-radiation on iodine aerosols under various chemical conditions. The results indicate that iodide ions (I^-) in aerosol can be readily oxidized to I₂ and HIO, and some iodide ions may be converted to organic iodine when organic additives are present in the KI solution from which the aerosol is generated. The results also suggest that the chemical transformation of irradiated iodine aerosol depends on the chemical environment both carrier gas and iodide solution.</p> </p>     

Zur Abtrennung und Dekontamination von Uran aus salpetersauren Spaltproduktlösungen mit Anionenaustauschern

Weight distribution coefficients for U(VI) against Dowex 1 and Dowex 2 in HCl/HNO₃ and practical column-exchange capacities under defined conditions were determined. The behaviour of thorium, protactinium, iron, zirconium, niobium, ruthenium, and tellurium in the same system was studied in column experiments. The results of these determinations are discussed. An ion exchange procedure for enrichment and decontamination of uranium from fission products and thorium containing nitric acid solutions with the aid of a simple remoted handling apparatus is described.