Hexaphyrin(1.0.1.0.0.0). A new colorimetric actinide sensor

Hexaphyrin(1.0.1.0.0.0) (isoamethyrin) undergoes a significant color change in the presence of UO₂²⁺, PuO₂²⁺, and NpO₂²⁺. The complexation of the first of these dioxo actinide cations was studied in semi-quantitative fashion in 1:1 MeOH-CH₂Cl₂. Under these conditions, the detection limit for UO₂²⁺ was found to be ca. 5.8 ppm by naked eye monitoring and <28 ppb by UV-vis spectroscopy. Isoamethyrin does not undergo a color change in the presence of most transition metals or when exposed to Gd(III). Isoamethyrin thus constitutes an attractive alternative to 2,2′(1,8-dihydroxy-3,6-disulfonaphthylene-2,7-bisazo)-bisbenzenarsonic acid (AzIII) and 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol (BrPADAP), systems currently used as actinide cation sensors.     

Complementary spectroscopic techniques to model the association of contaminant uranium with structural surfaces

Contaminant uranium poses unique problems for decontamination of former weapons processing and nuclear power facilities, as well as chemical plants, waste storage sites and former mining facilities. In addition, dealing with the possibility of intentional (i.e., a terrorist act) or accidental release of radioactive material in a populated area requires an accurate understanding of the nature of the association of such material with structural surfaces. These surfaces must also be considered in the context of repeated contamination, and the importance of atmospheric exposure, interaction with other possible contaminants, and corrosion or surface degradation due to such exposure must be taken into account. Complementary spectroscopic techniques, especially surface spectroscopies, are essential in developing models for the interaction of contaminants with surfaces and interfaces. In this review (which also presents new data on uranium association with corroding steel surfaces), we collect models of this association as determined by spectroscopic techniques, assess the important considerations in the development of more accurate models, and address some of the questions which remain.     

5-Br-PADAP分光光度法测定煤灰中微量铀

在pH8.2的三乙醇胺缓冲溶液中,有OP存在下,铀(Ⅵ)与2-(5-溴-2-吡啶偶氮)-5-二乙氨基苯酚(5-Br-PADAP)生成红色络合物,其最大吸收波长为535nm,表观摩尔吸光系数1.0×105L·mol-1·cm-1,在含铀0-7μg/25mL浓度范围符合比耳定律.方法灵敏度高,快速简便,用TBP萃淋树脂分离大量干扰离子,测定了煤灰中微量铀,结果令人满意.     

Baseline studies of radon/thoron concentration levels in and around the Lambapur and Peddagattu areas in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Studies conducted by Atomic Minerals Directorate of Exploration and Research (AMD) of Hyderabad, India had established the presence of higher concentrations of uranium in Lambapur and Peddagattu areas of Nalgonda district, AP, India and it was estimated that it could be a viable source for commercial extraction. The envisaged extraction process involves dispersion of radioactive particulate matter into atmosphere. Environmental radioactive studies in and around proposed mining areas at this point of time will be extremely useful for establishing base line data before a large scale uranium extraction process comes into existence. To this end, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors were installed to evaluate indoor radon and thoron concentration levels in the dwellings of the area. The geometric means of radon and thoron concentration levels were found to be (7.1±0.2)×10¹ and (6.7±0.3)×10¹ Bq/m³, respectively. Simultaneously, natural background radiation measurements were also made and these levels are found to vary from 770 to 3995 μGy/y in the spatial distribution.     

Surface tension and density measurements for indium and uranium using a sessile-drop apparatus with glow discharge cleaning

The sessile-drop method is used to measure the surface tension and density of liquid indium and uranium under high vacuum. Measurements are made over the temperature range 156–500°C for In and at the melting point for U. Surface oxides are efficiently removed with a glow discharge system. Drop profiles are captured by photograph and processed using nonlinear regression to yield the surface tension and density. In this regression procedure, normal distances from calculated profiles to data points are minimized. For indium, the density and surface tension measurements yield _mp = 7.05 × 10³kg/m³, d/dT = −0.776 kg/m³·°C, and γ_mp = 0.568 N/m, dγ/dT = −9.45 × 10⁻⁵ N/m·°C. The results for uranium at the melting point are _mp = 17.47 × 10³ kg/m³ and γ_mp = 1.653 N/m.     

Determination of uranium in solution at the ng 1−1 level by time-resolved laser-induced spectrofluorimetry: application to geological samples

Time-resolved laser-induced spectrofluorimetry was used for the determination of uranium at the ng 1^?1 level in alkaline water with high chloride and sulphide contents in order to obtain a better understanding of uranium mobilization under natural reducing conditions. The optimum complexing medium, limit of detection and results obtained for several waters from different localities in the Pyrenees are presented. These data seem to confirm that even at very low uranium concentrations, thermodynamic control by a mineral phase takes place.     

A Polarographic Study of ϵ-Caprolactam Complexes of Uranium and Tellurium

The polarographic behaviour of uranium and tellurium has been studied in the presence of increasing concentration of complex forming agent viz. ?-caprolactam at pH 4.4 for U(VI) and at pH 10.0 for Te(IV) at μ=0.1 M KNO₃. In both cases the waves have been found to be diffusion controlled and irreversible. The values of kinetic parameters (σπ_a and K°_f,h) have been calculated as a function of the ligand concentration. Method is suitable for the quantitative determination of these metals individually and simultaneously with the effect of diverse ions.     

K2[(UO2)As2O7] – the First Uranium Polyarsenate

Yellowish crystals of K₂[(UO₂)As₂O₇] ( 1 ) have been synthesized by solid‐state reactions method. The structure of 1 [orthorhombic, Pmmn, a = 12.601(2), b = 13.242(2), c = 5.621(1) Å, V = 937.9(3) ų, Z = 4] has been solved by direct methods and refined to R₁ = 0.049, wR₂ = 0.1060 for 1059 observed reflections. The structure of 1 is based upon [(UO₂)As₂O₇]^2? sheets formed by corner sharing between [UO₆]^6? distorted octahedra and [As₂O₇]^4? polyarsenate groups. The K⁺ cations are either in eightfold or tenfold coordination and are located between the sheets. The topology of the uranyl arsenate sheet is related to silicate minerals of the melilite group and related synthetic silicate, aluminate and germanate compounds.     

2,6—二氯—4—溴偶氮胂光度法测定微量铀（Ⅵ）

本报道用了２，６－二氯－４－溴偶氮胂作显色剂测定微量铀（Ⅵ）的光度法。在Ｈ２ＳＯ４介质中，铀（Ⅵ与）２，６－二氯－４－溴偶氮胂形成１：２络合物，其λｍａｘ＝６４０ｎｍ；表观摩尔吸光系数为１．１×１０＾５Ｌ．ｍｏｌ＾－＾１．ｃｍ＾－＾１；铀的浓度在０．０－２２．０μｇ／ｍｌ内符合比耳定律。方法具有灵敏度高，选择性好，操作方便等特点并已用于废水及矿样中微量铀（Ⅵ）的测定。     

Analytical applications of a differential technique in laser-induced fluorimetry: accurate and precise determination of uranium in concentrates and for designing microchemielectronic devices for on-line determination in processing industries

A novel instrumental technique for the direct, fast, accurate, and precise determination of uranium in concentrates and other U-rich materials (as well as to mineralized rocks) is presented. The proposed technique is an absolute methodology, based on the comparison of the fluorescence of the accurately known standard with a sample of similar but unknown concentration in the low operational range of the instrument (on same sample-dilution basis), by the use of H₃PO₄-NH₄H₂PO₄ as a fluorescence-enhancing reagent. The relative standard deviation of the proposed technique was 0.5-0.9% (n=9) at 18.1, 36.2, 61.2, and 99.6% U₃O₈. The proposed technique is suitable for the determination of uranium in samples arising from exploration projects, ores from mining operations, mill process samples, uranium ore concentrates leading to fuel fabrication as well as samples from environmental monitoring containing up to 100% uranium. The results are in good agreement with those obtained by titrimetric, gravimetric, and TBP extraction-H₂O₂ spectrophotometric methods. The precision of the technique is within the acceptable ‘pure geochemistry’ type of analysis (R.S.D. ∼ 1.0%) and is comparable even those obtained with titrimetric and gravimetric assay. The proposed differential technique coupled with flow injection may open up new advancement in instrumentation leading to design and development of microchemielectronic devices for direct on-line determination, more compatible with the tools of computer age as also to help in handling of radioactive solutions in chemical laboratories in uranium processing industries.