Effect of humic acid on the sorption of technetium on hematite colloids using <Superscript>95m</Superscript>Tc and <Superscript>96</Superscript>Tc as tracers

Sorption of technetium on hematite colloids, at varying pH (3–10), has been studied in absence and presence of humic acid using ^95mTc-⁹⁶Tc radiotracers. Technetium was found to be weakly sorbed on hematite at lower pH (<5) values, while no sorption was observed at higher pH values. Humic acid was found to have no effect on the sorption of technetium on hematite under aerobic conditions, while at lower pH values small reduction was observed which was attributed to the reduced zeta potential of the hematite colloids owing to the strong sorption of humic acid.     

A pH dependent transport and back transport of americium(III) through the cellulose triacetate composite polymer membrane of cyanex-301 and TBP: role of H-bonding interactions

Transport of Am(III) was studied through the composite polymer membrane of Cyanex-301 [bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid] and tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP). Depending on the pH of the strip solution containing alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid (AHIBA), the transport behaviour of Am(III) was changed significantly. After approximately 70% of the Am(III) transported to the strip side, interestingly, back transport of Am(III) was observed at a pH of 3.5. The back transport phenomenon was not so significant at pH 1 and 5.7. The back transport of Am(III) was attributed to the transport of AHIBA from strip to the feed side due to its interaction with TBP in the membrane and the attainment of Donnan equilibrium because of the presence of Na(+) in the feed as the driving ion. The experimental observations were rationalized using the hydrogen bonding interaction energies obtained through ab initio molecular orbital and DFT calculations.     

Extraction of thorium(IV) by a mixture of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone and tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide

The extraction behavior of Th(IV) from dilute nitric as well as perchloric acid medium using 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP) and its mixture with tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) was investigated. The species of the type Th(X)(PMBP)₃·(HPMBP) and Th(X)(PMBP)₃·(TOPO) were extracted for the binary and ternary extraction systems, respectively, where X=NO₃− or ClO₄−. The presence of 1.25·10⁻⁵M Th carrier in the aqueous phase resulted in the extracted species of the type of Th(PMBP)₄ and Th(PMBP)₄·(TOPO), respectively. The extraction constant (logk _ex ) for the binary species Th(PMBP)₄ was found to be 6.89±0.01 while the overall extraction constant (logK) for the ternary species Th(PMBP)₄·(TOPO) was calculated to be 13.17±0.06.     

Preparation of High‐Loading Polymer Supports by Polymerization Reaction Useful for Oligonucleotide Synthesis

A simple protocol based on polymerization reactions has been developed for the preparation of high‐loading polymer supports, useful for large‐scale synthesis of oligonucleotides. Polymer supports of different pore sizes have been employed in the present investigation to improve the functional‐group density on them. A ten‐ to twelvefold increase in the loading of the functional groups, after the polymerization reaction, has been observed. The support was then used in the subsequent reaction to attach the leader nucleoside to obtain fully functionalized supports 6a – 6c by oligonucleotide synthesis in an automated DNA synthesizer. The aminoalkylated‐supports 5a – 5c were directly employed for the synthesis of oligonucleotide 3′‐phosphates. The oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide 3′‐phosphates synthesized on these supports were compared with the corresponding standard oligomers with respect to their retention time on HPLC. These were further characterized on MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry.     

Removal of Cs from simulated high-level waste solutions by extraction using chlorinated cobaltdicarbollide in a mixture of nitrobenzene and xylene

Efficacy of chlorinated cobaltdicarbollide in a modified diluent, 20% nitrobenzene in xylene was tested for the extraction and recovery of Cs from simulated high-level waste (HLW) solutions generated from PHWR-fuel reprocessing. Concentration of the reagent, composition of the diluent, numbers of contacts, the nature of stripping agents are some of the parameters optimized for the complete removal of Cs from such waste solutions. The above solvent extraction procedure can be applied to genuine HLW solutions for effective reduction of the dose due to Cs so that HLW can be handled in fume hoods for its characterization.     

Gravimetric determination of carbon in uranium carbide

Summary The results of the determination of combined carbon and free carbon in uranium carbide in oxygen by a differential temperature technique suggest the pre-mature oxidation of the free carbon due to the local heating of the sample caused by the exothermic decomposition of the carbide. However, it was found possible to overcome this difficulty employing air as supporting gas at controlled heating rates.

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Gravimetrische Bestimmung von Kohlenstoff in Urancarbid

Zusammenfassung Bei der Bestimmung von gebundenem und freiem Kohlenstoff in Urancarbid bei unterschiedlichen Temperaturen ergaben sich Fehler durch vorzeitige Oxidation von freiem Kohlenstoff infolge lokaler Erhitzung der Probe durch die exotherme Zersetzung des Carbids. Diese Schwierigkeit konnte jedoch durch den Einsatz von Luft als Trägergas bei kontrollierter Erhitzungsgeschwindigkeit überwunden werden.

     

Dicyclohexano 18 crown 6 in butanol-octanol mixture: A promising extractant of Sr(II) from nitric acid medium

The extraction of strontium from nitric acid medium was investigated employing DCH18C6 in aliphatic alcohols as the diluents. 80% Butanol-20% octanol mixture was found to give higher D(Sr) values as compared to other alcohols investigated. A linear correlation between the organic phase water content and D(Sr) was observed, based on which the extraction mechanism was postulated. Effect of anion, cation, extractant concentration, nitric acid concentration and temperature on D(Sr) was also studied. Conditions for recovery (>90%) were arrived at and selectivity with respect to other interfering fission products was observed with most of the metal ions studied.     

Recovery of plutonium from oxalate supernatant using 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone

Summary Extraction of Pu(IV) from oxalate supernatant was carried out employing 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP) in xylene as extractant. The conditions for quantitative extraction were determined by the variation of ligand, oxalic acid and nitric acid concentration. Quantitative stripping was achieved using a mixture of 0.4M oxalic acid and 0.4M ammonium oxalate. Extraction of Pu(IV) from synthetic oxalate supernatant solution containing 3M nitric acid and 0.2M oxalic acid was investigated under various loading conditions employing 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone in xylene as extractant. Under uranium loading conditions the Pu extraction decreased significantly while with increased Pu loading whereas the D_Pu value was influenced marginally. The effect of a redox reagent on Pu extraction was also investigated.     

Application of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence for the determination of metallic impurities in ThO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometric methods have been developed for the determination of some common metallic impurities in ThO₂ matrix. A series of ThO₂ standards containing the analyte impurities in the range 10–100 (or 100–500) μg/g was prepared synthetically. The spectrometer conditions were optimized to obtain calibration plots for the various analytes. The accuracy and precision of the developed methodology for regular assay of ThO₂ was evaluated by analyzing three synthetic samples. Further three secondary ThO₂ standards were analyzed by EDRXF to check the developed methods. The determined concentrations of Ca, Cr, Fe, Ni and Cu were in good agreement with the certified values of the secondary standards.