Anion-exchange separation of plutonium in hydrochloric-hydrobromic acid media

Plutonium can be rapidly and selectively separated from the elements that interfere in its radiochemical determination, by the use of hydrobromic acid in a hydrohalic acid anion-exchange separation procedure. Plutonium(IV) and (VI) are adsorbed onto the resin column from 9M hydrochloric acid, interfering elements such as americium and thorium are washed from the column with 9M hydrochloric acid, and the plutonium is reduced to plutoniurn(III) and washed from the column with 11M hydrobromic acid. Interfering elements such as uranium and neptunium, which are adsorbed onto the column from 9M hydrochloric acid, are retained there during the hydrochloric and hydrobromic acid washes. This system would also appear to provide the means for effectively separating plutonium from those elements that commonly interfere in such chemical methods of analysis as redox titration.     

Cation-exchange separation of metals in dimethyl sulphoxide-aqueous hydrochloric acid media

The behaviour of bismuth, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, tin and zinc on a cation-exchange resin in a solvent system consisting of dimethyl sulphoxide, hydrochloric acid and water was studied. The distribution coefficients of these metal ions between liquid and resin were determined as functions of the concentration of dimethyl sulphoxide and of hydrochloric acid. On the basis of the distribution coefficients found, predictions were made as to the possibilities of separating these metals from mixtures. Such separations were confirmed experimentally for bismuth from lead, bismuth from copper, zinc from lead, lead from cadmium, silver from copper, silver from lead, lead from cadmium from zinc, bismuth from lead from zinc, and bismuth from zinc from copper.     

Anion exchange of some elements in acetic acid-hydrochloric acid medium

A comparative study of the adsorbability of Cd(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Ga(III), La(III), Mo(VI) and bromide from aqueous acetic acid solutions on' Dowex 1-X8, 100–200 mesh, in the acetate and chloride forms, proved that chloride ions are indispensable for high adsorption from concentrated acetic acid solutions. A study of the adsorption isotherms of Ni(II), Mn(II) and Cd(II) on the acetate-form resin from acetic acid-hydrochloric acid solutions, showed that these elements form anionic complexes. The K_d values on RCl-exchanger, for a given acetic acid concentration, were highly dependent on the total exchange capacity of the resin. A simplified anion-exchange separation procedure in aqueous acetic acid was developed, with an adsorption step from a mixture of acetic and hydrochloric acids.     

Anion-exchange separations of metal ions in thiocyanate media

The analytical potential of a weak-base macroreticular anion-exchange resin for the quantitative separation of metal ions in thiocyanate media is investigated and demonstrated. Distribution data are given for the sorption of some 25 metal ions from aqueous mixtures of potassium thiocyanate (1.0M or less) and 0.5M hydrochloric acid. The magnitude of the distribution data suggests many possible separations, some of which were quantitatively performed by procedures which are fast, simple and require only mild conditions. Representative separations are removal of traces of iron(III) and copper(II) from water samples prior to the determination of water hardness (calcium and magnesium), separation of nickel(II) from vanadium(IV) and the separation of thorium(IV) from titanium(IV). Some multicomponent separations are the separation of rare earths(III) and thorium(IV) from scandium(III) and the separation of rare earths(III) from iron(III) and uranium(VI).     

Selective and quantitative separation of zinc and lead from other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrohalic acid-acetone solutions

Zinc and lead can be separated from Cd, Bi(III), In and V(V) by eluting these elements with 0.2M hydrochloric acid in 60% acetone from a column of AG50W-X8 cation-exchange resin, zinc and lead being retained. Mercury(II), Tl(III), As(III), Au(III), Sn(IV), Mo(VI), W(VI) and the platinum metals have not been investigated quantitatively, but from their distribution coefficients, should also be eluted. Vanadium(V), Mo(VI) and W(VI) require the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Zinc and lead can be eluted with 0.5M hydrochloric acid in 60% acetone or 0.5M hydrobromic acid in 65% acetone and determined by AAS; the alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions, Mn(II), Co, Ni, Cu(II), Fe(III), Al, Ga, Cr(III), Ti(IV), Zr, Hf, Th, Sc, Y, La and the lanthanides are retained on the column, except for a small fraction of copper eluted with zinc and lead. Separations are sharp and quantitative. The method has successfully been applied to determination of zinc and lead in three silicate rocks and a sediment.     

Extraction of plutonium(IV), uranium(VI) and some fission products by di-n-hexyl sulphoxide

The extraction of nitric acid, plutonium, uranium and fission products such as zirconium, ruthenium and europium has been investigated using di-n-hexyl sulphoxide in Solvesso-100. Results indicate that Pu(IV), U(VI), Zr(IV) and Ru NO(III) are extracted as disolvates, whereas Eu(III) is extracted as the trisolvate. The absorption spectra of the plutonium(IV) and uranium(VI) complexes extracted are similar to those of the species extracted by TBP which indicate the similarity of the species involved. Preliminary studies show that irradiated di-n-hexyl sulphoxide extracts zirconium to a smaller extent than irradiated TBP suggesting the use of long chain aliphatic sulphoxides as promising extractants for the recovery of plutonium in high radiation fields.     

Sorption behaviour of lanthanum(III), neodymium(III), terbium(III), thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) on Amberlite XAD-4 resin functionalized with bicine ligands

The complexing properties (capacity, pH effect, breakthrough curve) of a chelating resin, containing bicine ligands, were investigated for La(III), Nd(III), Tb(III), Th(IV) and U(VI). Trace amounts of these metal ions were quantitatively retained on the resin and recovered by eluting with 1 M hydrochloric acid. The capacity of the resin for La(III), Nd(III), Tb(III), Th(IV) and U(VI) was found to be 0.35, 0.40, 0.42, 0.25 and 0.38 mmol g(-1), respectively. Separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) from Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) in a synthetic solution was carried out.     

Ion flotation behaviour of thirty-one metal ions in mixed hydrochloric/nitric acid solutions

The ion flotation of 31 metal ions in hydrochloric/nitric acid solution with the cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride was investigated. A 25-ml portion of 0.27-2.87 x 10(-4)M metal ion and 1.8-6.0 x 10(-4)M cetylpyridinium chloride solution in 0.17-3.4M acid mixture ([HCl]:[HNO(3)] = 2.4:1) was subjected to flotation in a cell, 22.5 cm high and 4.0 cm in diameter, for 5 min, with nitrogen bubbles. Ir(IV), Pt(IV), Ge(IV), Sn(IV), Bi(III), Au(III), Tl(III), Pd(II) and Sn(II) were floated from solution in 95-100% yield; Ru(III), Rh(III), Ir(III), Hg(II), Ag(I) and Tl(I) were partly floated, while Cr(VI), Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Ga(III), In(III), Fe(III), Sb(III), Al(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), CD(II) and Pb(II) were floated with less than 20% yield. The flotation behaviour of these metal ions in the mixed acid system was compared with that in hydrochloric acid. The flotation is more efficient in the mixed acid system.     

Selective extraction and separation of iron(III) with 4-methylpentan-2-ol

4-methylpentan-2-ol is used for quantitative extraction of iron(III) from 5.5-6M hydrochloric acid. The iron(III) is then stripped with water and determined titrimetrically. Te(IV), Se(IV), ascorbate, fluoride and thiocyanate interfere must be absent. Mo(VI), W(VI) and Au(III) are co-extracted but do not interfere in the determination.     

Separation of rhenium(vii) from molybdenum(vi) and many other elements by anion exchange

A method is described for the selective separation of μg and mg amounts of rhenium(VII) from molybdenum (VI) and many other metal ions by means of the strongly basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1-X8. The separation is based on the preferential elution of molybdenum by a 90% (v/v) methanol-10% 6 M nitric acid mixture; rhenium and a few other elements are retained while molybdenum and most other metal ions including Fe(III), Ca, Mg, Mn, U, Cu, V, etc., are practically unadsorbed. After elution of the adsorbed rhenium with 70% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran-30% 9 M hydrochloric acid, the rhenium is determined spectrophotometrically by a modified thiocyanate method.     

Selective separation of indium from zinc, lead, gallium and many other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrohalic acid-acetone medium

Indium can be separated from Zn, Pb(II), Ga, Ca, Be, Mg, Ti(IV), Mn(II), Fe(III), Al, U(VI), Na, Ni(II) and Co(II) by selective elution with 0.50M hydrochloric acid in 30% aqueous acetone from a column of AG50W-X8 cation-exchange resin, all the other elements being retained by the column. Lithium is included in the elements retained by the column when 0.35M hydrochloric acid in 45% aqueous acetone is used for eluting indium, but the elution of indium is slightly retarded. Ba, Sr, Zr, Hf, Th, Sc, Y, La and the lanthanides, Rb and Cs should also be retained according to their distribution coefficients. Cd, Bi(III), Au(III), Pt(IV), Pd(II), Rh(III), Mo(VI) and W(VI) can be eluted with 0.20M hydrobromic acid in 50% aqueous acetone before the elution of indium, and Ir(III), Ir(IV), As(III), As(V), Se(IV), Tl(III), Hg(II), Ge(IV), Sb(III) and Sb(V), though not investigated in detail, should accompany these elements. Relevant distribution coefficients and elution curves and results for analyses of synthetic mixtures of indium with other elements are presented.     

Absorption spectroscopic properties for Pu(III,IV and VI) in nitric and hydrochloric acid media

Absorption spectroscopic properties for various Pu oxidation states in nitric and hydrochloric acid solutions were investigated with UV-Visible spectrophotometry. As a result, it was confirmed that the intensities of the major absorption peaks had a tendency to decrease for Pu(III), Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) in HCl and HNO₃ media, and the major peak positions were shifted to longer or shorter wavelengths depending on the complexforming abilities of Pu(III), Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) with the chloride or nitrate ion with increasing acid concentrations. The values of the wavelength and the molar absorptivity for the principal peaks of Pu(III), Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) in NHO₃ and HCl solutions were similar to those reported in other works. The values of the molar absorptivity for the principal peaks of Pu(III), Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) in the HNO₃ solution were a little higher than those in the HCl solution.     

Extraction chromatography of uranium with dioctyl sulphoxide

Uranium(VI) is quantitatively extracted from aqueous perchlorate media into dioctyl sulphoxide in 1,2-dichloroethane. The extracted species contains four sulphoxides for each uranium. Most other metal ions are not appreciably extracted. On columns containing a solid support impregnated with dioctyl sulphoxide in 1,2-dichloroethane, uranium(VI) may be separated quantitatively from metal ions such as thorium(IV), zincronium(IV) and rare carths(III).     

Chromatography of inorganic ions on polyethyleneimine cellulose layer in hydrochloric acid — Ammonium thiocyanate media

Summary Thin-layer chromatographic behavior of 58 inorganic ions on polyethyleneimine (PEI) cellulose has been systematically surveyed in hydrochloric acid — ammonium thiocyanate media. In this media most of the ions distribute chromatographically on the layer. Ag(I), Hg(II), Pd(II), Au(III), Bi(III), Ru(III), Pt(IV), Nb(V), Ta(V), Mo(VI), and W(VI) are strongly retained, while alkali earths(II), Mg(II), As(III), Ti(IV), and Te(VI) are not absorbed to any great extent in this system. An interesting correlation was found between the R_f values on PEI-cellulose in the thiocyanate media and the paramagnetic moment of the rare earths(III). An oddeven fluctuation against the atomic number is also found for the heavy rare earths(III). Chromatographic separation of many inorganic ions of analytical interest is demonstrated in this system.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of uranium

Uranium(VI) (10–100 μg) is extracted with 2% dibenzoylmethane in benzene at pH 6–7 while other cations are masked with CDTA (maximum of 8 μg/100 ml). Shaking with 6 M hydrochloric acid reintroduces uranium(VI) into the aqueous phase, where after evaporation and complexation with Arsenazo III in 0.02 M hydrochloric acid the final measurement of absorbance at 650 nm is performed. Iron(III), copper(II), aluminum, and zinc do not interfere even if present in amounts of 15–19 mmol.     

Determination of selenium(IV) and other forms of selenium dissolved in sea water by anion-exchange resin loaded with sulfonic acid derivative of bismuthiol-II and hydride generation atomic-absorption spectrometry

Summary A sulfonic acid derivative of bismuthiol-II (bisIIS) was synthesized from 4-hydrazinobenzene sulfonic acid and carbon disulfide. Selenium(IV) was adsorbed selectively and quantitatively on the anion-exchange resin loaded with bis-IIS. Selenium adsorbed on the resin was eluted by the use of penicillamine and determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (hydride generation/AAS). Selenium(VI) and other forms of selenium, which were not adsorbed onto the resin, were collected on the resin after digestion with nitric acid followed by reduction with hydrochloric acid. Separative preconcentration of selenium(IV), selenium(VI) and other forms of selenium in 0.5 mol/l sodium chloride could be carried out successfully by the proposed procedures. However, in the case of estuarial sea water containing a large quantity of organic substances, selenium(IV) could not be separated, because organic substances interfered with the reduction of selenium(VI) to selenium(IV) by the use of hydrochloric acid. Selenium(IV) and total amount of selenium(VI) and other forms of selenium dissolved in polluted sea water samples were determined by the proposed procedures.

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Bestimmung von Selen (IV) und anderen in Meereswasser gelösten Selenformen mit Hilfe eines mit dem Sulfonsäurederivat von Bismuthiol-II beladenen Anionenaustauschers und der Hydrid-AAS

     

Determination of uranium in minerals and rocks

A method is described for the determination of uranium in minerals and rocks by spectrophotometry and fluorimetry. After treatment of the sample with hydrochloric acid, uranium is separated from matrix elements by adsorption on a column of the strongly basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1 x 8 from an organic solvent system consisting of IBMK, tetrahydrofuran and 12M hydrochloric acid (1:8:1 v v ). Following removal of iron, molybdenum and co-adsorbed elements by washing first with the organic solvent system and then with 6M hydrochloric acid, the uranium is eluted with 1M hydrochloric acid. In the eluate, uranium is determined by means of the spectrophotometric arsenazo III method or fluorimetrically. The suitability of the method for the determination of both trace and larger amounts of uranium was tested by analysing numerous geochemical reference samples with uranium contents in the range 10(-1)-10(4) ppm. In practically all cases very good agreement of results was obtained.     

Determination of selenium and tellurium in air by atomic-absorption spectrometry

Elemental selenium and tellurium, and gaseous inorganic forms of Se(IV), Se(VI), Te(IV) and Te(VI) have been determined after their adsorption on gold-coated beads. After leaching, with water and dilute hydrochloric and nitric acids, the different chemical species in each acid fraction were separated with an anion-exchange resin (Bio-Rad AG-1X8) and a cation-exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120 Plus) by varying the acidity of the leaching agent. Subsequent analysis was by graphite-fumace atomic-absorption spectrometry. The lower detection limit for Se and Te was 0.03 ng/M(3) with a precision of +/- 5%. The average amounts of selenium in interior and exterior air samples were about 4.73 and 1.93 ng/m(3) respectively. For tellurium the corresponding values were about 0.78 and 0.24 ng/m(3).     

Flow analysis of silicate rocks for zirconium

A flow analysis system involving the on-line configuration of an anion-exchange column has been examined to enrich and determine trace concentrations of zirconium of several ppm to hundred ppm levels in silicate rocks and minerals. About 100 mg of sample is decomposed by fusion with a mixture of boric acid and lithium carbonate and taken up with 1M hydrochloric acid to a total of 100 ml. Depending upon the concentration of zirconium, either a 1- or 4-ml aliquot is introduced into an aqueous carrier stream, merged with sulphuric acid and passed through a small volume anion-exchange column. The enriched zirconium is then back eluted with hydrochloric acid, colour-developed with Arsenazo III, and detected spectrophotometrically at 665 nm.     

Spectrophotometric determination of zirconium, uranium, thorium and rare earths with arsenazo III after extractions with thenoyltrifluoroacetone and tri-n-octylamine

A method is described for the spectrophotometric determination of microgram amounts of zirconium, uranium(VI), thorium and rare earths with Arsenazo III after systematic separation by extraction. First zirconium is extracted into a xylene solution of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) from about 4M hydrochloric acid. Uranium(VI) is then extracted into a xylene solution of tri-n-octy lamine from about 4M hydrochloric acid. Thorium is next extracted into TTA solution at pH about 1.5, and finally rare earths are extracted into TTA solution at pH about 4.7. Each metal is back-extracted from the organic phase before determination.