A pulse radiolysis investigation of the reactions of tributyl phosphate with the radical products of aqueous nitric acid irradiation

Tributyl phosphate (TBP) is the most common organic compound used in liquid-liquid separations for the recovery of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium from acidic nuclear fuel dissolutions. The goal of these processes is to extract the actinides while leaving fission products in the acidic, aqueous phase. However, the radiolytic degradation of TBP has been shown to reduce separation factors of the actinides from fission products and to impede the back-extraction of the actinides during stripping. As most previous investigations of the radiation chemistry of TBP have focused on steady state radiolysis and stable product identification, with dibutylphosphoric acid (HDBP) invariably being the major product, here we have determined room temperature rate constants for the reactions of TBP and HDBP with the hydroxyl radical [(5.00 +/- 0.05) x 10(9), (4.40 +/- 0.13) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)], hydrogen atom [(1.8 +/-0.2) x 10(8), (1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)], nitrate radical [(4.3 +/- 0.7) x 10(6), (2.9 +/- 0.2) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)], and nitrite radical (<2 x 10 (5), <2 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), respectively. These data are used to discuss the mechanism of TBP radical-induced degradation.     

A Comparison of Low and High LET (Linear Energy Transfer) Induced Radiolysis of Solvent Extraction Processes

Reagents used in chemical separation processes for used nuclear fuel are susceptible to radiolysis. Here we investigate the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li reaction for inducing high linear energy transfer (LET) radiolysis. A solution of tributyl phosphate (TBP) in n-dodecane, representing the PUREX solvent, was irradiated by gamma rays from a¹³⁷Cs source and by high LET particles from the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li reaction in the UC Irvine TRIGA reactor. TBP degradation and Dibutyl phosphate (DBP) formation were quantified by gas chromatography. Our data show a significantly larger formation of DBP in the presence of gamma radiation compared to high LET radiation.     

Characterization of zirconium complexes of interest in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Liquid-liquid extraction of zirconium, one of the most important fission products, was followed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry under conditions simulating reprocessing of nuclear spent fuel. Zr(IV) can precipitate from the organic phase after extraction by dibutylphosphoric acid (HDBP), the most common degradation product of tributylphosphate (TBP) radiolysis. Different complexes were detected with electrospray used in positive or negative ion modes, according to the extraction conditions such as the ligand/metal ratio. Stoichiometry of the Zr(IV) complexes was determined by combining isotopic labeling [H(15)NO(3)] of the aqueous phase in the extraction system and tandem mass spectrometry experiments. These results were compared with the species observed using other techniques reported in the literature. The mechanisms of ionization/desorption of these complexes are proposed depending on the organic ligand character (neutral (L) such as TBP, or acidic (HL') such as HDBP), and the ionization mode used. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

TRIPLET, RADICAL ANION AND RADICAL CATION SPECTRA OF FUROCOUMARINS

Abstract— Absorption spectra of triplets, radical anions and radical cations of four furocoumarins, psoralen (Ps), 8-methoxypsoralen (8MOP), 5-methoxypsoralen (5MOP) and 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3CPs), have been determined by laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis. The triplet spectra of 8MOP, 5MOP and 3CPs are strongly modified when going from an H-bonding solvent such as water to a non H-bonding solvent as benzene or acetonitrile while the triplet spectrum of Ps is solvent independent. Theoretical considerations using a CNDO/S method are able to explain the existence of these two different triplets. For 8MOP, 5MOP and 3CPs in water the triplets might be considered as triplet exciplexes ³(FC^δ-. H₂O^δ+) consistent with these triplet spectra being similar to the spectra of the corresponding radical anions.     

Dimerization and oligomerization of styrene in the presence of pentasils

Styrene is converted to dimers under the action of zeolite ZSM-12 both in the presence and absence of the solvent (chlorobenzene). This transformation is characterized by a high conversion of the monomer (up to 100 wt.%) and selective formation of linear isomers (704-75%). In the presence of zeolites ZVN and VKZ in chlorobenzene, styrene forms a mixture of oligomers (n = 24-7), among which the dimers prevailed, while without the solvent oligomers with an average molecular weight of-1510 are formed.     

The Chemistry of Separations Ligand Degradation by Organic Radical Cations

Solvent based extractions of used nuclear fuel use designer ligands in an organic phase extracting ligand complexed metal ions from an acidic aqueous phase. These extractions will be performed in highly radioactive environments, and the radiation chemistry of all these complexants and their diluents will play a major role in determining extraction efficiency, separation factors, and solvent-recycle longevity. Although there has been considerable effort in investigating ligand damage occurring in acidic water radiolysis conditions, only minimal fundamental kinetic and mechanistic data has been reported for the degradation of extraction ligands in the organic phase. Extraction solvent phases typically use normal alkanes such as dodecane, TPH, and kerosene as diluents. The radiolysis of such diluents produce a mixture of radical cations (R^•+), carbon-centered radicals (R^•), solvated electrons, and molecular products such as hydrogen. Typically, the radical species will preferentially react with the dissolved oxygen present to produce relatively inert peroxyl radicals. This isolates the alkane radical cation species, R^•+ as the major radiolytically-induced organic species that can react with, and degrade, extraction agents in this phase. Here we report on our recent studies of organic radical cation reactions with various ligands. Elucidating these parameters, and combining them with the known acidic aqueous phase chemistry, will allow a full, fundamental, understanding of the impact of radiation on solvent extraction based separation processes to be achieved.     

Solvent effects on the redox properties of thioethers

The one-electron reduction potential of the radical cations of thioanisole (1), benzyl methyl sulfide (2) and 2-hydroxyethyl benzyl sulfide (3) in water, formamide, acetonitrile, acetone, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol, methanol and 2-propanol was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. For comparison the one-electron reduction potentials in water were also measured using pulse radiolysis. The redox potential is strongly influenced by the nature of the solvent and the solvent sensitivity increases with charge localization. The present results have been used to evaluate solvent effects in view of the Kamlet-Taft relationship. The Kamlet-Taft expression quantitatively describes the solvent effects on the redox properties of 1-3 and gives the relative importance of the different solvent properties. The dominating contribution to the solvent effects is the solvent dipolarity/polarizability pi*, whereas alpha appears to be of minor importance. Furthermore, the relationship between the pi* and reduction potential of radical cations of 1-3 appear to be linear. It was also possible to find the same trend between the solvent dipole moment and peak potential of 1-3. These facts indicate that the nature of solvation is mainly nonspecific.     

Pulse radiolysis of vinyl monomers, in the pure state and with added pyrene

Pulse radiolysis studies have been used to investigate the early phenomena in the radiolysis of acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, butyl vinyl ether, propionic acid, methyl acetate and butyl ether; the latter three solvents were used as model compounds for these vinyl monomers. The triplet state, radical cation, radical anion, and free radical of pyrene (cyclohexadienyl type) were observed to various degrees in the radiolysis of pyrene in these monomers. In acrylic acid, where the free radical and the cation dominate, the monomer polymerizes efficiently, whereas in butyl vinyl ether, where the anion dominates, polymerization does not occur. The behavior of methyl acrylate lies between that of acrylic acid and butyl vinyl ether. However, the high intensity of the electron pulses creates a high concentration of radicals leading to a short lifetime of the radical which in turn leads to a much smaller yield of polymerization. The mechanism of polymerization under high energy radiation is found to be free radical in nature.     

水对环己烷-磷酸三丁酯体系γ辐解和脉冲辐解的影响(英文)

为确定辐解体系中烷烃单重态的来源,研究了水对环己烷(C6H12)-磷酸三丁酯(TBP)体系γ辐解和脉冲辐解的影响.水显著地抑制C6H12-TBPγ辐解体系中TBP酸式辐解产物的生成,酸式辐解产物的G值从无水体系的8.2降至水饱和体系的1.9,表明水分子既抑制了TBP自身辐解生成的TBP单重态,又通过阻断单重态C6H12与TBP之间的能量转移,消除了C6H12自身辐解对单重态TBP的酸式辐解产物的敏化作用.但在以二苯酮(Bp)为探针的TBP-Bp和C6H12-TBP-Bp脉冲辐解体系中,水的加入并未抑制辐解产物羰自由基的产额,其机理是,水分子通过与偕离子对反应而抑制C6H12单重态和TBP单重态的产生,但不影响羰自由基的生成.这也许是辐解体系中大部分(G=1.3)单重态C6H12和部分(G=0.8)单重态TBP来源于偕离子对[C6H12·+…e-]和[TBP·+…e-]的复合的直接证据.由于极性较大,水可用作偕离子对的高效捕捉剂.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and diode array detection in the identification and quantification of the degradation products of calix[4]arene crown-6 under radiolysis

The extraction of 135Cs from high-activity liquid waste, arising from reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, can be achieved by using calix[4]arene crown-6 compounds. The radiolytic degradation of di(n-octyloxy)calix[4]arene crown-6 (octMC6), in aliphatic or aromatic solvent in contact with 3 M nitric acid, was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography directly coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS). More than 50 distinct degradation products were observed, and about 30 of these were identified. These compounds can be assigned to three categories, namely, products of reactions involving radical cleavage or addition, of oxidation reactions, or of aromatic substitution reactions. The major product, corresponding to substitution by an NO2 group, was quantified by external standard calibration using a purified synthetic sample. Despite the observation of all these degradation compounds, octMC6 appears to be remarkably stable under these drastic conditions, combining hydrolysis (HNO(3) 3 M) and an extreme exposure to radiolysis (10(6) Gy). Less than 35% degradation of octMC6 was observed in aromatic solvent under these conditions.     

Mechanically stabilized tetrathiafulvalene radical dimers

Two donor-acceptor [3]catenanes-composed of a tetracationic molecular square, cyclobis(paraquat-4,4'-biphenylene), as the π-electron deficient ring and either two tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) containing macrocycles or two TTF-butadiyne-containing macrocycles as the π-electron rich components-have been investigated in order to study their ability to form TTF radical dimers. It has been proven that the mechanically interlocked nature of the [3]catenanes facilitates the formation of the TTF radical dimers under redox control, allowing an investigation to be performed on these intermolecular interactions in a so-called "molecular flask" under ambient conditions in considerable detail. In addition, it has also been shown that the stability of the TTF radical-cation dimers can be tuned by varying the secondary binding motifs in the [3]catenanes. By replacing the DNP station with a butadiyne group, the distribution of the TTF radical-cation dimer can be changed from 60% to 100%. These findings have been established by several techniques including cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry and UV-vis-NIR and EPR spectroscopies, as well as with X-ray diffraction analysis which has provided a range of solid-state crystal structures. The experimental data are also supported by high-level DFT calculations. The results contribute significantly to our fundamental understanding of the interactions within the TTF radical dimers.     

Geometries and stabilities of l-ascorbic acid dimer and its derivatives: a computational investigation by density functional methods

Geometries, relative stabilities, and hydrogen bonds of l-ascorbic acid (LAA) and d-Erythroascorbate (DEAA) dimers as well as their S- and Se-substituted isomers in gas phase and water solvent are studied using density functional method. Furthermore, the hydrogen bond lengths in LAA and DEAA dimers are generally increased along with the binding dissociation energy of the dimers being decreased as apex O atoms in the five-membered C5 rings of LAA and DEAA dimers are substituted by S and Se atoms in gas phase and water solvent. Interestingly, one LAA dimer and its S- or Se-substituted isomer with four hydrogen bonds in gas and water solvent are the three-centers structures. In addition, the chemical bonding and charge distributions of all the dimers are discussed. A good agreement with available experimental results is reached.     

Au dimers on thin MgO(001) films: flat and charged or upright and neutral?

A combination of low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and theoretical calculations is used to investigate Au dimers, supported on thin MgO(001) films, whose thickness was chosen such that charge transfer from the Ag substrate to the deposited Au is possible. Au dimers exist not only in an upright geometry--as theoretically predicted to be the most stable configuration--but also as flat lying dimers which populate a manifold of different azimuthal orientations. Apart from the difference in adsorption configurations, these two isomers exhibit rather different electronic structures: while upright dimers are neutral, flat ones are charged.     

BIPHOTONIC CHEMISTRY OF PHENANTHRENE UNDER 308 nm EXCIMER LASER IRRADIATION

Abstract— –The high intensity laser induced photochemistry of phenanthrene is complex and appears to be non-linear with respect to laser intensity. Photochemical products primarily involve the solvent (CH₂C1₂) and phenanthrene coupling. These species exhibit strong absorption and emission which are red-shifted from that of phenanthrene. In the presence of a-methyl styrene, styrene oligomers are formed, but no dimers, indicating that there are no a-methyl styrene cation radical reactions. In all cases of laser irradiation the solutions become acidic, which is ascribed to the deprotonation of the phenanthrene cation radical. Acid formation does not occur in the presence of a-methyl styrene under CW irradiation with a conventional Xe lamp. These differences are ascribed to photoionization from the singlet state for laser irradiation while under CW conditions triplet-triplet annihilation can produce the phenanthrene cation radical.     

Radical Cations of Phenyl‐Substituted Aziridines: What Are the Conditions for Ring Opening?

Radical cations were generated from different phenyl-substituted aziridines by pulse radiolysis in aqueous solution containing TlOH.+, N3. or SO4.- as oxidants or in n-butyl chloride, by 60Co gamma radiolysis in Freon matrices at 77 K, and in some cases by flash photolysis in aqueous solution. Depending on the substitution pattern of the aziridines, two different types of radical cations are formed: if the N atom carries a phenyl ring, the aziridine appears to retain its structure after oxidation and the resulting radical cation shows an intense band at 440-480 nm, similar to that of the radical cation of dimethylaniline. Conversely, if the N atom carries an alkyl substituent while a phenyl ring is attached to a C-atom of the aziridine, oxidation results in spontaneous ring opening to yield azomethine ylide radical cations which have broad absorptions in the 500-800 nm range. In aqueous solution the two types of radical cations are quenched by O2 with different rates, whereas in n-butyl chloride, the ring-closed aziridine radical cations are not quenchable by O2. The results of quantum chemical calculations confirm the assignment of these species and allow to rationalize the different effects that phenyl rings have if they are attached in different positions of aziridines. In the pulse radiolysis experiments in aqueous solution, the primary oxidants can also be observed, whereas in n-butyl chloride a transient at 325 nm remains unidentified. In the laser flash experiments, both types of radical cations were also observed.     

Synthesis, characterization, and solvent-independent photochromism of spironaphthooxazine dimers

Specifically angled, conjugated spiroindolinonaphthooxazine dimers (SNOD) have been synthesized. The photochromic reactions of two types of SNOD were studied under continuous UV irradiation in solvents of different polarity. Comparison of these results with the single unit provides the examination of the specific effect of substituents on their photochromic properties and relaxation kinetics. The photomerocyanine isomers showed positive solvatochromism, supporting the premise for a less polar quinoidal structure. The thermal closing rate at 25 °C ranged from 0.2 to 1.6 s⁻¹ depending on the compound and solvent. Photochromism of these new compounds showed little dependency on solvent polarity and stable cyclability.     

Triplet excited states and radical intermediates formed in electron pulse radiolysis of amino-substituted fluorenones

Electron pulse radiolysis of four differently substituted amino derivatives of fluorenone, namely, 1-amino-, 2-amino- 3-amino-, and 4-aminofluorenone, has been carried out to study the effect of structure on the spectroscopic and kinetic characteristics of the triplet excited states as well as the transient free radical intermediates formed under reducing and oxidizing conditions. The triplet states of these compounds have been generated in benzene by pulse radiolysis and in other solvents by flash photolysis technique and their spectral and kinetic properties have been investigated. Hydrated electron (e_aq⁻) has been found to react with these fluorenone derivatives to form the anion radical species with a diffusion-controlled rate constant. The spectral and kinetic properties of the transient ketyl and anion radicals have been studied by generating them in aqueous solutions of suitable pH. The pK_a values of ketylanion radical equilibria are in the range of 6.8–7.7 for these derivatives. The oxidized species have been generated by reaction with the azide radical. Hydrogen atom adducts as well as the cation radicals of these derivatives have also been generated by pulse radiolysis and characterized.     

Kinetic model for the radical degradation of tri-halonitromethane disinfection byproducts in water

The halonitromethanes (HNMs) are byproducts of the ozonation and chlorine/chloramine treatment of drinking waters. Although typically occurring at low concentrations HNMs have high cytotoxicity and mutagenicity, and may therefore represent a significant human health hazard. In this study, we have investigated the radical based mineralization of fully-halogenated HNMs in water using the congeners bromodichloronitromethane and chlorodibromonitromethane. We have combined absolute reaction rate constants for their reactions with the hydroxyl radical and the hydrated electron as measured by electron pulse radiolysis and analytical measurements of stable product concentrations obtained by ⁶⁰Co steady-state radiolysis with a kinetic computer model that includes water radiolysis reactions and halide/nitrogen oxide radical chemistry to fully elucidate the reaction pathways of these HNMs. These results are compared to our previous similar study of the fully chlorinated HNM chloropicrin. The full optimized computer model, suitable for predicting the behavior of this class of compounds in irradiated drinking water, is provided.     

Theoretical characterization of four distinct isomer types in hydrated-electron clusters, and proposed assignments for photoelectron spectra of water cluster anions

Water cluster anions, (H(2)O)(N)(-), are examined using mixed quantum/classical molecular dynamics based on a one-electron pseudopotential model that incorporates many-body polarization and predicts vertical electron detachment energies (VDEs) with an accuracy of ~0.1 eV. By varying the initial conditions under which the clusters are formed, we are able to identify four distinct isomer types that exhibit different size-dependent VDEs. On the basis of a strong correlation between the electron's radius of gyration and its optical absorption maximum, and extrapolating to the bulk limit (N → ∞), our analysis supports the assignment of the "isomer Ib" data series, observed in photoelectron spectra of very cold clusters, as arising from cavity-bound (H(2)O)(N)(-) cluster isomers. The "isomer I" data reported in warmer experiments are assigned to surface-bound isomers in smaller clusters, transitioning to partially embedded isomers in larger clusters. The partially embedded isomers are characterized by a partially formed solvent cavity at the cluster surface, and they are spectroscopically quite similar to internalized cavity isomers. These assignments are consistent with various experimental data, and our theoretical characterization of these isomers sheds new light on a long-standing assignment problem.     

Photolysis of ((3-(Trimethylsilyl)propoxy)phenyl)phenyliodonium salts in the presence of 1-naphthol and 1-methoxynaphthalene

Direct photolysis of ((3-trimethylsilylpropoxy)phenyl)phenyliodonium salts with different counteranions (Cl(-), SbF(6)(-), and B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-)) in methanol leads to products by both heterolytic and homolytic processes. In the presence of 1-naphthol and 1-methoxynaphthalene, products formed by a heterolytic reaction disappear, suggesting an electron-transfer process occurs between excited 1-naphthol/1-methoxynaphthalene and the iodonium salts. In the case of 1-methoxynaphthalene, three phenylated methoxynaphthalene isomers are produced. These are produced as radical coupling products from the phenyl radical and 1-methoxynaphthalene radical cation.