A pH- and Redox-Potentiometric Study of Equilibria between Fe(II), Fe(III), and N-(Carboxymethyl)Aspartic Acid

Complexation in the Fe²⁺–Fe³⁺–N-(carboxymethyl)aspartic acid (H₃L) system in aqueous solutions was studied by pH- and redox-potentiometric titration at 25°C and at an ionic strength of 0.1 (KCl). Depending on the H₃L concentration and pH, neutral, protonated, and hydroxo complexes of iron(III) can be formed in the solutions. The stability constants for all the detected complexes were calculated, and the distribution plots for the fractions of complexes vs. the solution pH were constructed.     

A novel Np–Pu separation procedure based on extraction with di-(chlorophenyl)-dithiophosphinic acid in nitric solution

The extraction behavior of Pu(III), Pu(IV), Np(IV) and Np(V) with di(chlorophenyl)-dithiophosphinic acid (DCPDTPA) in toluene from nitric acid solutions was studied systematically. In aqueous solution with high nitric acid concentration, the extraction capability (represented by distribution ratio D) for Pu and Np in different valences with DCPDTPA comes as D _Np(IV) > D _Pu(IV) > D _Np(V) > D _Pu(III). A new radiochemical procedure for Np/Pu separation based on DCPDTPA extraction was proposed and tested with simulated samples. The recoveries of Np and Pu are as high as 80 % after the whole separation procedure, with the decontamination factor of trivalent lanthanide fission product element (e.g. Eu) greater than 1.5 × 10⁴. The decontamination factor of Pu–Np is 2.0 × 10³, while the decontamination factor of Np–Pu is greater than 4.8 × 10³ after additional purification.     

Evaluation of radiation stability of N,N-didodecyl N′,N′-di-octyl diglycolamide: a promising reagent for actinide partitioning

The radiation stability of N,N-di-dodecyl-N′,N′-di-octyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D³DODGA) was studied by γ-irradiation of the solvent up to a absorbed dose of 1,000 kGy. The effect of γ-irradiation on the radiolytic degradation of D³DODGA was assessed by measuring the distribution ratio of Am(III) (D _Am(III)) as well as the third phase formation in the irradiated D³DODGA-n-dodecane solution. The D _Am(III) in the irradiated solution decreased with increase of absorbed dose. The critical aqueous concentration of Nd(III) above which the third phase forms, increased with increase of absorbed dose. However, the limiting organic concentration of Nd(III) remained at ~25 mM irrespective of the absorbed dose. Recovery of Am(III) from the radiolytically degraded organic phase showed that back extraction of Am(III) was quantitative in a few contacts using dilute nitric acid. Our studies clearly indicated that radiolytic degradation of D³DODGA in n-dodecane is marginal even at the absorbed dose of 1,000 kGy, and therefore D³DODGA is a potential candidate for minor actinide partitioning.     

Solvent extraction of several metal ions with mercaptotropone

Mercaptotropone was synthesized from tropone, and its acid dissociation constant (K_a) and distribution coefficient (K_D) between benze and aqueous solution were spectrophotometrically determined as 5.75 (pK_a) and 2.46 (log K_D); Extraction behaviour of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Cr(III), Fe(III), Y(III), and Zr(IV) with this reagent into benzene was examined. Cu(II) and Fe(III) were completely extracted from acidic solution, Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Zr(IV) were also extracted from intermediate pH region, a part of Cr(III) was extracted, but Y(III) was not extracted.     

Manganese(III) oxidation of L‐serine in aqueous sulfuric acid medium: Kinetics and mechanism

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of L‐serine by manganese(III) ions have been studied in aqueous sulfuric acid medium at 323 K. Manganese(III) sulfate was prepared by an electrolytic oxidation of manganous sulfate in aqueous sulfuric acid. The dependencies of the reaction rate are: an unusual one and a half‐order on [Mn(III)], first‐order on [ser], an inverse first‐order on [H⁺], and an inverse fractional‐order on [Mn(II)]. Effects of complexing agents and varying solvent composition were studied. Solvent isotope studies in D₂O medium were made. The dependence of the reaction rate on temperature was studied and activation parameters were computed from Arrhenius‐Eyring plots. A mechanism consistent with the observed kinetic data has been proposed and discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 525–530, 1999     

Thermodynamics of adsorption of cerium on lead dioxide

Adsorption of cerium on lead dioxide from aqueous solutions has been studied as a function of shaking time, amount of adsorbent, pH, concentration of the adsorbate and temperature. The adsorption process is endothermic and the distribution coefficient (K_D) increases with increasing temperature. The data fit very well the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Raduskevich Isotherms and their corresponding constants were calculated. H^o and S^o were calculated from the slope and intercept of plots of lnK_D vs. 1/T. G^o values decreases with increasing temperature, showing that the adsorption of Ce(III) is more favorable at high temperature. The endothermacity of the adsorption process is discussed.     

Retention profile and selective separation of 90Y from 89Sr using zirconium-vanadate gel packed column

A low cost and selective method has been developed for the separation of trace concentrations of ⁹⁰Y³⁺ from its parent ⁸⁹Sr²⁺. The proposed procedure is based upon complete retention of ⁹⁰Y³⁺ onto zirconium-vanadate (Zr-V) gel ion exchanger packed column from aqueous solutions containing HCl (1.0 × 10^?5mol dm^?3). Under these conditions, ⁸⁹Sr²⁺ species were not retained onto Zr-V sorbent. The retained ⁹⁰Y³⁺ species were then recovered with HCl. The performance of Zr-V sorbent packed column was determined via the height equivalent to the theoretical plates (HETP) and the number of plates (N). Validation of the developed method was checked by calculating the radionuclidic purity in terms of purification factor (P _f = A/A₀) and radiochemical purity of the eluted ⁹⁰Y from the column. Zr-V sorbent packed column offers unique advantages of retention and quantitative separation of ⁹⁰Y from retention over conventional solid sorbents in rapid and effective separation of trace concentration of ⁹⁰Y³⁺ from ⁸⁹Sr²⁺ in their aqueous equilibrium media.     

Studies on the solvent extraction behaviour of Pu(IV) from sulfuric acid medium into di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP)

Extraction of plutonium(IV) from aqueous sulfuric and sulfuric-nitric acid into di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HY) in the diluents n-dodecane, toluene or chloroform has been investigated. The composition of the Pu(IV) species extracted from H₂SO₄ was found to be PuH₂Y₆, which changed to Pu(NO₃)H₂Y₅ and Pu(NO₃)₂H₂Y₄ with increasing concentration of nitrate ion in the aqueous medium. These three species can be represented as PuY₂(HY₂)₂, Pu(NO₃)Y(HY₂)₂ and Pu(NO₃)₂(HY₂)₂, respectively, where Y represents the anion of monomeric HY, and HY₂ the anion of dimeric H₂Y₂. Synergism in the extraction of Pu(IV) by the addition of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) to HY was also investigated and attributed to extraction of the additional species, Pu(TTA)Y(HY₂)₂ and Pu(TTA)₂(HY₂)₂. The addition of the neutral extractant tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) to HY did not result in synergism in the extraction of Pu(IV) from aqueous sulfuric acid. With aqueous nitric acid under similar conditions, however, synergism was observed. The possible equilibria in these systems were identified and the corresponding equilibrium constants were determined.     

Extraction of rare-earth,yttrium, and scandium perchlorates by podands bearing diphenylphosphorylacetamide terminal groups

Partition of trace amounts of metal (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y, and Sc) perchlorates was studied between aqueous HClO₄ solutions and dichloroethane solutions of phosphorus podands bearing two Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(O)NH-terminal groups linked via di-and triethylene glycol spacers. The stoichiometry of extracted complexes was determined. The efficiency of metal ion recovery to the organic phase was studied as a function of aqueous HClO₄ concentration and nature of the organic solvent. The compounds synthesized have higher metal extraction capacities in HClO₄ solutions than (dibutylcarbamoyl)diphenylphoshine oxide. The utility of macroporous polymer sorbents impregnated by these podands for extracting and concentrating rare earth(III) and scandium(III) ions from aqueous perchlorate solutions was demonstrated.     

Étude par spectrométrie raman laser de l'extraction liquide-liquide du FeCl3 par le chlorhydrate de trilaurylamine

Raman spectra of aqueous 1 M chloroferrate(III) solutions indicate the presence of FeCl₃ and FeCl₄^- in proportion to the hydrochloric acid concentration, but FeCl₄^- is only present in solutions of acidity higher than 5 M HCl. The liquid-liquid extraction of the aqueous chloroferrate phases ( 1 M HCl) by trilaurylamine hydrochloride in cyclohexane, shows that iron(III) is extracted only in its FeCl₄^- form, even though this species does not appear in the aqueous solutions. A quantitative spectroscopic study of the organic phases by means of the v₁ line of FeCl₄^- at 332 cm^-1 leads to the following conclusions: (a) the plot of the scattering coefficient of the 332 cm^-1 line versus iron(III) concentration shows the presence of two complex species in the organic phase; (b) the distribution curves of the complex species could be calculated. On the basis of the Raman results, an ion-pair type compound is proposed for the two complexes.     

Ternary diffusion coefficients of diethanolamine and N-methyldiethanolamine in aqueous solutions containing diethanolamine and N-methyldiethanolamine

Ternary diffusion coefficients of diethanolamine (DEA) and N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) in aqueous solutions containing DEA and MDEA using the Taylor dispersion technique have been measured for temperatures (303.2, 313.2, and 323.2 K). The systems studied were aqueous solutions containing total amine concentrations of 2.5 and 4.0 kmol m⁻³, each having four different amine molar ratios. The density and viscosity of the blended amine solutions were also measured. The mutual diffusion coefficients of aqueous DEA and aqueous MDEA solutions were also reported. The main diffusion coefficients (D₁₁ and D₂₂) and the cross-diffusion coefficients (D₁₂ and D₂₁) were reported as function of temperature and concentration of alkanolamines. The limiting conditions for the main diffusion coefficients and the cross-diffusion coefficients were discussed at first, and a comparison between the ratios of the cross-diffusion coefficients to the main diffusion coefficients for DEA and MDEA was made. The dependence of the main diffusion coefficients on the viscosity of solutions was also investigated.     

210Pb and210Po in tobacco-with a special focus on estimating the doses of210Po to man

Studies have been carried out on the solubility of Pu(III) oxalate by precipitation of Pu(III) oxalate from varying concentrations of HNO₃/HCl (0.5–2.0M) solutions and also by equilibrating freshly prepared Pu(III) oxalate with solutions containing varying concentrations of HNO₃/HCl, oxalic acid and ascorbic acid. Pu(III) solutions in HNO₃ and HCl media were prepared by reduction of Pu(IV) with ascorbic acid. 0.01–0.10M ascorbic acid concentration in the aqueous solution was maintained as holding reductant. The solubility of Pu(III) oxalate was found to be a minimum in 0.5M–1M HNO₃/HCl solutions containing 0.05M ascorbic acid and 0.2M excess oxalic acid in the supernatant.     

Solvation of thiocyanate complexes of tungsten(VI) by 5-(4-pyridyl) nonane from aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions

5-(4-Pyridyl)nonane has been evaluated as a solvent for trace amounts (<5·10^–5 M) of tungsten(VI) from aqueous chloride-thiocyanate solutions. Remarkable enhancements in metal extractability are observed on the addition of SCN^– to aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions. Extremal partition coefficients are obtained from 0.1 M HCl in 0.2 M KSCN. Diminutions of the metal extractability are produced by relatively high (>0.5 M) SCN^– concentrations and increased concentration of the supporting acid. Slope analysis data, under optimal parameters, indicates the most probable composition of the extractable species as WO₂(SCN)₂·2P_YN. Neutral anions do not have any significant effect on the D values. Behaviour of a number of metal ions has been checked using optimal aqueous conditions of extraction. The investigation shows that the reagent has a great potential for the preconcentration of a number of metal ions including the common toxins.     

Oxidation of L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid by manganese(III) ions in aqueous sulphuric acid,acetic acid,and pyrophosphate media: A kinetic study

Kinetics of oxidation of L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid by manganese(III) ions have been studied in aqueous sulphuric acid, acetic acid, and pyrophosphate media. Manganese(III) solutions were prepared by known electrolytic/chemical methods in the three media. The nature of the oxidizing species present in manganese(III) solutions was determined by spectrophotometric and redox potential measurements. The reaction shows a variable order in [manganese(III)]_o: the order changes from two to one as the reactive oxidizing species changes from an aquo ionic form to a complex form. There is a first-order dependence of the rate on [amino acid]_o in all the three media while the other common features include an inverse dependence each on [H⁺] and on [manganese(II)]. Effects of varying ionic strength and solvent composition were studied. Added anions such as pyrophosphate, fluoride, or chloride alter the reaction rate and mechanism by changing the formal redox potential of Mn(III)-Mn(II) couple. Activation parameters have been evaluated using the Arrhenius and Eyring plots. Mechanisms consistent with the kinetic data have been proposed and discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Tuning the diglycolamides for modifier-free minor actinide partitioning

The unsymmetrical diglycolamides (DGAs) such as N,N-dihexyl-N′,N′-dioctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (DHDODGA), N,N-didecyl-N′,N′-dioctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D²DODGA), N,N-didodecyl-N′,N′-dioctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D³DODGA), were synthesized, and characterized by IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopic techniques. The extraction behaviour of Am(III), Eu(III), and Sr(II) by the solutions of these unsymmetrical DGAs in n-dodecane was studied as a function of concentration of nitric acid and DGA. The distribution ratio of Am(III) and Eu(III) increased with increase in the concentration of nitric acid; whereas, the distribution ratio of Sr(II) reached a maximum at 4 M nitric acid followed by decrease at higher acidities. The extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) in 0.1 M DGA/n-dodecane decreased in the order DHDODGA > D²DODGA > D³DODGA. However, the order changed upon lowering the concentration of DGA. The third-phase formation behaviour of nitric acid and neodymium(III) in 0.1 M DGA/n-dodecane was studied as a function of concentration of nitric acid. The limiting organic concentration of nitric acid and neodymium increased with increase in the chain length of alkyl group attached to amidic nitrogen. Near stoichiometric amount of neodymium(III) was loaded in 0.1 M D³DODGA/n-dodecane without the formation of third-phase from 3 to 4 M nitric acid medium. The study revealed that the unsymmetrical diglycolamides D²DODGA and D³DODGA are superior candidates for partitioning the minor actinides from high-level liquid waste.     

Solvent extraction of thorium from mixed organic — aqueous nitric acid media by try-n-octylphosphine oxide

The extraction equilibria of Th in tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO)–HNO₃–H₂O systems have been investigated in the absence and presence of water-miscible alcohols and acetone. The influence of TOPO concentration in an inert diluent (toluene) and the concentration of nitric acid and the water-miscible additives have been systematically examined. The slopes of the log-log plots of D_Th vs. the TOPO concentration (up to 0.02M) are found to be close to 3 over a wide range of polar phase compositions leading to a coordination number of 11 for Th. The D_Th values were determined as a function of the concentration of uranyl nitrate in the aqueous phase, while the effect of additives was also examined in the absence and presence of uranyl nitrate in the polar phase. The results show that at TOPO concentrations above about 2.5 · 10^–3 M (about 1%) in toluene, polymerization of the solvent occurs.     

Liquid–liquid extraction of scandium with nalidixic acid in dichloromethane

The extraction behavior of nalidixic acid (HNA) in CH₂Cl₂ has been studied for various di- and trivalent metal ions such as Cu(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Sb(II), Co(II), Sc(III), Y(III), Nd(III) and Eu(III) from aqueous buffer solutions of pH 1–7 with 0.1 mol dm⁻³ nalidixic acid in dichloromethane. Separation factors of Sc(III) from these metals has shown that its clean separation is possible at pH 3.4–4. The parameters affecting the extraction of Sc(III) were optimized. The composition of the extracted adduct was determined by slope analysis method that came out to be Sc(NA)₃. Extraction of Sc(III) was studied in the presence of various cations and anions. Among the anions studied only fluoride, citrate and oxalate have significant interference whereas, Fe(III) has reduced the extraction to 53% that can be removed by using ascorbic acid as reducing agent. The proposed extraction system proved good stability up to six extraction-stripping stages for the extraction of Sc(III).     

New Insights into Buffer-Ionic Salt Interactions: Solubilities,Transfer Gibbs Energies,and Transfer Molar Volumes of TAPS and TAPSO from Water to Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

The solubilities of N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (TAPS) or N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]-3-amino-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (TAPSO) in water and in aqueous solutions of CH₃COOK (KAc), KBr, KCl, or NaCl were determined from density measurements at 298.15 K. The solubilities of TAPS in aqueous solution decrease with increasing concentration of the salts (salting-out effect), whereas those of TAPSO increase with increasing concentration of the salts (salting-in effect). The solubility and density data were further used to calculate the apparent transfer Gibbs energies, Δ_tr G, and transfer molar volumes, D_trV_f^o\Delta_{\mathrm{tr}}V_{\phi}^{\mathrm{o}}, of these buffers from water to aqueous electrolyte solutions at 298.15 K. The contributions of various functional groups of TAPS, TAPSO, and the related buffers (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, TRIS, and N-tris[hydroxymethyl]-4-amino-butanesulfonic acid, TABS) to the transfer properties were systematically estimated from the calculated Δ_tr G and D_trV_f^o\Delta_{\mathrm{tr}}V_{\phi}^{\mathrm{o}}.     

NMR.-Investigation of the Formaldehyde Addition and Oligomerisation Equilibria in the System Formaldehyde/Water/Acetic Acid/Hydrochloric Acid

An NMR. investigation of the state of formaldehyde in acidic solutions has been carried out. Solutions of DCl/D₂O/CD₃COOD containing two sources of formaldehyde, i.e. paraformaldehyde (I) and trioxane (II), were used for this purpose. In systems I and II the effect of various D₂O/CD₃COOD ratios, at a constant DCl concentration, was studied, while for II the effect of changing DCl concentration was also investigated. The results show that in aqueous solution, formaldehyde exists primarily as the monomeric and linear oligomeric forms of methylene glycol. Reducing the amount of D₂O (at constant DCl concentration), while increasing the CD₃COOD content, results in an increase in the polymeric species and in trioxane. In addition, substitution of water by acetic acid results in systems that are catalytically more active than aqueous solutions of the same hydrochloric acid concentration. Along with the usual polymer-monomer equilibria which exist in such solutions, side reactions of methylene glycol with the hydrochloric acid present also occur to a small extent, e.g. acetylation, substitution of OH by Cl and the Cannizzaro reaction. It is suggested that these findings will result in a better understanding of the formaldehyde crosslinking reactions in cotton cellulose.     

Preparation, spectroscopic and high field NMR relaxometry studies of gadolinium(III) complexes with the asymmetric tetraamine 1,4,7,11-tetraazaundecane

The reaction of Gd(III) with asymmetric tetramine 1,4,7,11-tetraazaundecane (2,2,3-tet, L¹) ligand has been studied via NMR spectroscopy. The ligand proton longitudinal relaxation rates (R₁) have been used to estimate the distances of these protons from the Gd(III) center, in Gd(III)–L¹ reaction solutions, in H₂O/D₂O 5/1 mixtures.Two Gd(III) complexes [Gd(III)(L¹)(NH₃)(H₂O)₄](CH₃COO)₃·2H₂O (1) and [Gd(III)(L¹)(NH₃)(H₂O)₂]Cl₃·EtOH (2) have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses, TGA, IR, NMR and relaxometry measurements. The NMR relaxation measurements of 2 in aqueous solutions have been performed, under various temperature or concentration conditions, and compared with those of the commercial contrast agents Gd(III)–DTPA and Gd(III)–DTPA-BMA. It has also been studied the influence of (i) the Gd(III) inner-sphere water molecule number (q) alteration and (ii) the steric constraint enhancement on the metal site, over the relaxation rate values of the parent aqueous solution of Gd(III)–2,2,3-tet, and of the aqueous solutions of 2.