Hydrothermal method of preparation of actinide(IV) phosphate hydrogenphosphate hydrates and study of their conversion into actinide(IV) phosphate diphosphate solid solutions

Several compositions of Th2-x/2AnIVx/2(PO4)2(HPO4).H2O (An=U, Np, Pu) were prepared through hydrothermal precipitation from a mixture of nitric solutions containing cations and concentrated phosphoric acid. All the samples were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis, and infrared spectroscopies to check for the existence of thorium-actinide(IV) phosphate hydrogenphosphate hydrates solid solutions. Such compounds were obtained as single phases, up to x=4 for uranium, x=2 for neptunium, and x<4 for plutonium, the cations being fully maintained in the tetravalent oxidation state. In a second step, the samples obtained after heating crystallized precursors at high temperature (1100 degrees C) were characterized. Single-phase thorium-actinide(IV) phosphate-diphosphate solid solutions were obtained up to x=0.8 for Np(IV) and x=1.6 for Pu(IV). For higher substitution rates, polyphase systems composed by beta-TAnPD, An2O(PO4)2, and/or alpha-AnP2O7 were formed. Finally, this hydrothermal route of preparation was applied successfully to the synthesis of an original phosphate-based compound incorporating simultaneously tetravalent uranium, neptunium and plutonium.     

Cation exchange and sorption properties of crystalline alpha-titanium(IV) phosphate

The ion-exchange and sorption properties of alpha-titanium bis(monohydrogen orthophosphate) monohydrate of composition Ti(HPO(4))(2).H(2)O was studied in aqueous electrolyte solutions of KCl over the temperature range of 300-320 K, varying the pH and metal ion concentration in the solution. The data were explained on the basis of the law of chemical equilibrium and the metal ion sorption data were fitted to Langmuir parameters. Further, the extent of sorption was found to increase with increasing temperature and metal ion concentration in the selectivity order Fe(3+)>Cu(2+)>Co(2+)>Mn(2+)>Cr(3+)>Ni(2+). The values of Langmuir constants were used to calculate the various thermodynamic parameters, such as DeltaG(0), DeltaH(0), and DeltaS(0), during the sorption process.     

Extraction studies of Pu(IV) with octylphenyl acid phosphate

Octylphenyl acid phosphate, the commercially available mixture of monooctylphenylphosphoric acid (MOPPA) and dioctylphenylphosphoric acid (DOPPA) in xylene medium has been employed as an extractant for distribution studies on Pu(IV) in different mineral acids including phosphoric acid. It was found possible to extract Pu quantitatively from an acid mixture comprising 2.5M H₃PO₄, 0.75M H₂SO₄ and 0.5M HNO₃. Quantitative stripping was observed with a mixture of 0.25M oxalic acid and 0.2M ammonium oxalate.Parts of this work have been reported at symposie (Refs^1,2)     

Pyridine based thorium(IV) phosphate hybrid fibrous ion exchanger

Pyridine based thorium(IV) phosphate (PyThP) has been synthesized by drop-wise addition of the thorium(IV) nitrate with constant stirring into a mixture of pyridine and phosphoric acid. This material has been characterized using X-ray, IR spectra, TG, DTG and SEM studies in addition to its ion exchange capacity, elution and pH titrations. The material has been found amorphous and fibrous in nature on the basis of X-ray diffraction and SEM studies. TG has revealed the changes incurred in the material on thermal treatment and IR spectral studies have shown the presence of various groups in its structure.     

Intercalation of monomers into alpha tin(IV) hydrogen phosphate

Monomers which contain unsaturated linkages and amine groups have been intercalated to form either mono- or bi-layers. The monomertrans-N,N-diethyl-2-butene-1,4-diamine (NNBD) has been intercalated into -tin(IV) hydrogen phosphate. The guest molecule, NNBD, forms a monolayer (d ₀₀₁ = 1.35 nm) in which the amine groups are paired to protons on opposite faces of the phosphate layers. The resultant compound has the formula Sn(C₈H₁₈N₂)_0.73(HPO₄)₂·H₂O indicating that NNBD does not cover a large proportion of the available protons. 4-vinylpyridine slowly forms an intercalate in which the host molecule forms a bilayer (d ₀₀₁ = 1.56 nn). However, with 4-vinylpyridine there is surface modification in preference to intercalation.     

Pyridine based cerium(IV) phosphate hybrid fibrous ion exchanger

Both temperatures, T _C, (T _C —Curie temperature) and heat of the phase transition: ferroelectric-paraelectric, ΔH, in the Ba_xSr_1−xTiO₃ materials have been studied by means of the microcalorimetric method. The determined parameters were verified by either temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity (Curie-Weiss law) or thermodynamic method. The effect of strontium content on T _C has been discussed. It was found that microcalorimetry is useful tool studying phase transition phenomena in ferroelectric perovskites.     

Some ion exchange properties of amorphous titanium (IV) phosphate

An amorphous titanium (IV) phosphate exchanger has been synthesised and characterized through elemental analysis, infrared, and thermogravimetric techniques. Divalent cations Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb in bidistilled water have been exchanged with the proton of the exchanger matrix using a batch method. From these results the thermodynamic selectivity constants and distribution coefficients were calculated, whose values indicate a high selectivity for Pb and Hg. Both cations were successfully separated from a mixture containing all cations studied through column separation experiments.     

Preparation, structure, and properties of tetranuclear vanadium(III) and (IV) complexes bridged by diphenyl phosphate or phosphate

Three novel tetranuclear vanadium(III) or (IV) complexes bridged by diphenyl phosphate or phosphate were prepared and their structures characterized by X-ray crystallography. The novel complexes are [{V(III)(2)(μ-hpnbpda)}(2){μ-(C(6)H(5)O)(2)PO(2)}(2)(μ-O)(2)]·6CH(3)OH (1), [{V(III)(2)(μ-tphpn)(μ-η(3)-HPO(4))}(2)(μ-η(4)-PO(4))](ClO(4))(3)·4.5H(2)O (2), and [{(V(IV)O)(2)(μ-tphpn)}(2)(μ-η(4)-PO(4))](ClO(4))(3)·H(2)O (3), where hpnbpda and tphpn are alkoxo-bridging dinucleating ligands. H(3)hpnbpda represents 2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diamino-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N'-diacetic acid, and Htphpn represents N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine. A dinuclear vanadium(IV) complex without a phosphate bridge, [(VO)(2)(μ-tphpn)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(3)·2H(2)O (4), was also prepared and structurally characterized for comparison. The vanadium(III) center in 1 adopts a hexacoordinate structure while that in 2 adopts a heptacoordinate structure. In 1, the two dinuclear vanadium(III) units bridged by the alkoxo group of hpnbpda are further linked by two diphenylphosphato and two oxo groups, resulting in a dimer-of-dimers. In 2, the two vanadium(III) units bridged by tphpn are further bridged by three phosphate ions with two different coordination modes. Complex 2 is oxidized in aerobic solution to yield complex 3, in which two of the three phosphate groups in 2 are substituted by oxo groups.     

Extraction and separation studies of tellurium(IV) with tris-(2-ethyl hexyl) phosphate

A method is proposed for the extraction of microgram levels of tellurium(IV) from halide media with tris-(2-ethyl hexyl) phosphate dissolved in toluene as extractant. The optimum conditions have been evaluated from a critical study of acid concentration, extractant concentration, period of equilibration and effect of solvent. Tellurium ion from the organic phase is stripped with water and determined spectrophotometrically with stannous chloride. The method affords binary separation of tellurium from copper, bismuth, gold and selenium and is applicable to the analysis of alloy samples and synthetic mixtures. The method is fast, accurate and precise.     

Joint extraction of vanadium(V) and vanadium(IV) with di(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate

The organic extracts formed in joint extraction of vanadium(V) and vanadium(IV) with di(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate from weakly acidic aqueous solutions were characterized by IR and electronic spectroscopy and chemical analysis.     

Electrochromatographic separation of metal ions on tin(IV) phosphate papers

Electrochromatographic separations on tin(IV) phosphate papers in 12 background electrolytes are described. Migration distances for 48 ions are given. Many binary as well as ternary separations are readily achieved, e.g. Fe-Cr, Sr-Ba, Pt-Ru- Cu and Au-Pd-Cu.     

Kinetic studies on the solvent extraction of uranium (IV), thorium (IV) and uranium (VI) from nitric acid solutions with tributyl phosphate

The kinetics of solvent extraction of U (IV), Th (IV) and U (VI) from nitric acid solution with tributyl phosphate (TBP) in kerosene and cyclohexane have been studied using the single drop technique. The effects of concentrations of U (IV), Th (IV), U (VI), nitric acid, nitrate, TBP and temperature on the extraction rates of U (IV), Th (IV) and U (VI) have been examined. The mechanisms for the three extraction processes are discussed.     

Ion-exchange equilibria of metal ions and hydrogen ions on anilinium tin(IV) phosphate

Summary Ion-exchange equilibria of metal ions (Mn^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, Cd^II and Hg^II)/H⁺ systems have been studied at 30, 40, 50 and 60°C on anilinium tin(IV) phosphate (ATP) as a cation exchanger. The exchange isotherms were measured for both forward and reverse reactions with a solution of ionic strength 0.1 by the batch technique. The isotherms are S-shaped for each ion-exchange system. Selectivity coefficients vary linearly with the equivalent fraction of transition metal ion in the exchanger in the range from 0 to 0.6. The selectivity sequence of zero loading is: Zn^II <Mn^II<Cu^II<Cd^II<Hg^II. Overall and hypothetical (zero loading) thermodynamic data are evaluated.     

Selective extraction of cerium(IV) on tri-n-butyl phosphate and thenoyltrifluoroacetone loaded polyurethane foam

A method for the selective extraction of cerium (IV) on tri-n-butyl phosphate and thenoyltrifluoroacetone loaded foams is described. Parameters affecting the extraction of the metal ion, such as pH, reagent concentration and equilibration time have been investigated. Effects of ten diverse cations have also been studied. The method can be applied to preconcentrate and determine cerium in glasses.This work was performed at the University of Veszprém, Department of Radiochemistry, by A.R. acting as guest research fellow.     

Extraction of uranium (VI), plutonium (IV) and some fission products by tri-iso-amyl phosphate

The extractive properties of tri-isoamyl-phosphate (TAP), an indigenously prepared extractant, and the loading capacity of extraction solvent containing TAP for U(VI) and Pu(IV) ions in nitric solution have been investigated. The dependence of the distribution ratio on the concentration of nitric acid showed that TAP has an ability to extract these actinides, while the fission product contaminants are poorly extracted. The distribution data revealed a quantitative extraction of both U(VI) and Pu(IV) from moderate nitric acidities in the range 2–7 mol · dm^–3. Slope analysis proved predominant formation of the disolvated organic phase complex of the type UO₂(NO₃). 2TAP and Pu(NO₃)₄·2TAP with U(VI) and PU(IV), respectively. On the contrary, the extraction of fission product contaminants such as¹⁴⁴Ce,¹³⁷Cs,⁹Nb.,¹⁴⁷Pr,¹⁰⁶Ru,⁹⁵Zr was almost negligible even at very high nitric acid concentrations in the aqueous phase indicating its potential application in actinide partitioning. The recovery of TAP from the loaded actinides could be easily accomplished by using a dilute sodium carbonate solution or acidified distiled water (0.01 mol · dm^–3 HNO₃) as the strippant for U(VI) and using uranous nitrate or ferrous sulphamate as that for Pu(IV). Radiation stability of TAP was adequate for most of the process applications.     

Chromium speciation and preconcentration using zirconium(IV) and zirconium(IV) phosphate chemically immobilized onto silica gel surface using a flow system and F AAS

A procedure for chromium speciation by F AAS using a flow system has been proposed. In this system, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions were adsorbed sequentially onto a mini-column packed with silica gel modified with zirconium phosphate and a mini-column packed with silica gel modified with zirconium oxide, respectively. The elution of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was made with, respectively, nitric acid solution and tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine (THAM) solution in reverse mode and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry without interference of the matrix. Chemical and flow variables as well as concomitant ions were studied in the developed procedure. The enrichment factor for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 20.8 and 24.9, respectively, using a preconcentration time of 3.75 min. The limit of detection for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 1.9, and 2.3 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The precision of the method, evaluated as the relative standard deviation in solutions containing 100 μg l⁻¹ of chromium species, by analyzing a series of seven replicates, was lower than 3.0%. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments of water samples and using another methodology.     

Oxopentacyano-complexes of molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) in photolysis of octacyanometalates(IV)

Summary Ligand-field (LF) photolysis of aqueous alkaline solutions of K₄[M(CN)₈] (M = Mo or W) containing KCN produces [MO(CN)₅]^3– species. NaCs₂]MO(CN)₅] was isolated and characterised by u.v.-vis., i.r. and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, the reactions of [MO(OH)(CN)₄]^3– with free CN^– are described and the relations between octa-, penta- and tetra-cyanocomplexes are summarised.