Counter-current extraction and separation of U(VI) from a mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV)–Y(III) using tris-2-ethyl hexyl phosphate (TEHP)

Evaluation of tris-2-ethyl hexyl phosphate (TEHP) for counter-current extraction and separation of U(VI) from a mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV)–Y(III) from nitric acid medium was carried out under wide experimental conditions. Batch extraction studies were carried out to investigate the effect of nitric acid concentration in feed solution, U(VI)/Th(IV) ratio and extractant concentration and the results were compared with established solvent such as tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) for separation of U(VI) from nitric acid medium. McCabe–Thiele diagrams for extraction as well as stripping of U(VI) were constructed under simulated conditions. Based on batch experiments, six stage counter-current extraction studies were conducted under various TEHP concentration and it was observed that 0.1 M TEHP/n-paraffin was most suitable for selective recovery of U(VI) from a mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV). An optimized condition, 0.1 M TEHP/n-paraffin, 2 M HNO₃ in feed and six number of stages was evaluated for selective extraction and stripping of U(VI) from a solution containing mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV)–Y(III) in nitric acid medium. The U(VI) in strip solution was precipitated using 30 % H₂O₂ at pH ~3. Average particle size of the final precipitate was found to be ~33 μm.     

Preconcentration and determination of ultra-trace amounts of U(VI) and Th(IV) using titan yellow-impregnated Amberlite XAD-7 resin

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of ultra trace amounts of U(VI) and Th(IV) ions by spectrophotometric method after solid-phase extraction on a new extractant-impregnated resin (EIR) has been reported. The new EIR was synthesised by impregnating a weakly polar polymeric adsorbent, Amberlite XAD-7, with titan yellow (TY) as extractant. The analytical method is based on the simultaneous adsorption of analyte ions in a mini-column packed with TY/XAD-7 and performing sequential elution with 0.5% (w/v) Na₂CO₃ for uranium and 2.0 M HCl for thorium. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH, salting out agent and sample volume were investigated. The interference effects of foreign ions on the retention of the analyte ions were also explored. The limits of detection for U(VI) and Th(IV) were as low as 50 and 25 ng L^?1, respectively. Relative standard deviations (n = 7) for U(VI) and Th(IV) were 3.1% and 2.9%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ultra trace amounts of U(VI) and Th(IV) in different real matrices including industrial wastewater samples and environmental waters. The proposed method was validated using three certified reference materials and the results were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Extraction and thermodynamic behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid solution with tri-isoamyl phosphate

The extraction behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) with tri-isoamyl phosphate–kerosene (TiAP–KO) from nitric acid medium was investigated in detail using the batch extraction method as a function of aqueous-phase acidity, TiAP concentration and temperature, then the thermodynamic parameters associated with the extraction were derived by the second-law method. It could be noted that the distribution ratios of U(VI) or Th(IV) increased with increasing HNO₃ concentration until 6 or 5 M from 0.1 M. However, a good separation factor (D _U(VI)/D _Th(IV)) of 88.25 was achieved at 6 M HNO₃, and the stripping of U(VI) from TiAP–KO with deionized water or diluted nitric acid was easier than that of Th(IV). The probable extracted species were deduced by log D-log c plot at different temperatures as UO₂(NO₃)₂·(TiAP)_(1–2) and Th(NO₃)₄·(TiAP)_(2–3), respectively. Additionally, △H, △G and △S for the extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) revealed that the extraction of U(VI) by TiAP was an exothermic process and was counteracted by entropy change, while the extraction of Th(IV) was an endothermic process and was driven by entropy change.     

Adsorption and kinetic behavior of uranium and thorium in seawater-sediment system

The adsorption and kinetic mechanism of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in seawater-sediments system of Mumbai Harbour Bay (MHB) has been studied by K _d values of two sets of experimental determinations using a batch experiment. After equilibrium time (7 days), under static conditions, K _d for U and Th ranged from 25,030 to 55,662 mL/g (mean: 42,140 mL/g) and 24,926 to 38,561 mL/g (mean: 34,256 L/kg), respectively. Extraction studies showed that both U and Th were strongly bound to sediment components due to insignificant difference in their mean concentration in equilibrium solution. Rate constants (k) for transfer between seawater and the exchangeable fraction were found to be similar for the sediments as 1.02 ± 0.03 day^?1 for uptake of U and Th. The resulting adsorption data were fitted to Freundlich, linear and Langmuir isotherm models. All the three models showed a significant correlation (R ² >0.9), indicating that there is more complex relationships with adsorption behavior of U and Th on sediment surface. Since, the Freundlich constant (n) for U and Th was found to be closer to unity. Therefore linear model was observed to be highly suitable. Based on the linear model, the distribution coefficient (k _d) of Th was about 1.5 times higher than U. According to Freundlich model, sorption of U in sediments observed to be higher than Th. However, Langmuir model considered in opposite to Freundlich and showed a higher value of K _L constant for Th than U. The pH (water) of the sediments ranged from 7.8 to 8.2 and the estimated total carbon (determined by C H N S–O elemental analyser) ranged from 1.7 to 3.4 %.     

New cyclen derivative ligand for thorium(IV) separation by solvent extraction

A new N-containing ligand, 1,4,7,10-tetra-(4-nitrobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo-dodecane (L), was synthesized, and its structure was determined by ¹H NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. L crystallized in the monoclinic system (P2₁/n space group; a = 7.7895(2) Å, b = 22.9592(5) Å, c = 9.9204(2) Å; α = 90.00°, β = 105.481(3)°, γ = 90.00°; Z = 2). Slope analysis and the continuous variation method demonstrated that 1:2 complexes between Th(IV) and L are formed; furthermore, the XPS analysis suggested that two oxygen atoms might be provided by two water molecules and that eight nitrogen atoms might be provided by two L molecules to form a ten-coordinate compound with Th(IV). The extraction equilibrium constant for the complex formation between Th(IV) and L was logK _ex = 6.95 ± 0.15 (25 °C), and the Gibbs free energy, ΔG ^o (25 °C), of the 1:2 Th–L complex in dichloromethane was ?39.56 kJ/mol. The L ligand in dichloromethane only slightly extracted Th(IV) from HNO₃ solution at pH = 1–3; however, an extraction efficiency of E = 94.9 ± 0.3 % was observed at pH = 4.63. The selectivity of L for the Th(IV) cation over other cations (i.e., Cs(I), Sr(II), Y(III), La(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), U(VI), and ²⁴¹Am(III)) was evaluated. Furthermore, the stripping experiments showed that the stripping agent (0.5 mol/L Na₂CO₃ + 0.1 mol/L EDTA) could provide an optimal condition for stripping thorium, and thorium recovery was up to 91.6 ± 0.1 %.     

Synthesis and characterization of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl-4-oxaheptanediamide as extractant for extraction of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) ions from nitric acid solution

Tridentate ligand N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-4-oxaheptanediamide(TOOHA) and other three analogous diamides have been prepared and characterized by using NMR spectra and element analysis. The extraction of UO₂ ²⁺ and Th⁴⁺ with the present extractants was investigated at 293 ± 1 K from nitric acid solutions. n-Octane was found to be the most suitable diluent in the present study compared with other diluents tested. Extraction distribution ratios (D) of U(VI) and Th(IV) have been studied as a function of aqueous concentrations of HNO₃, extractant concentrations. The results indicated that U(VI) is mainly extracted as UO₂(NO₃)₂·2TOOHA. In the case of Th⁴⁺ ion, the possible compositions of extracted species in organic phase were presumed to be Th(NO₃)₄·2TOOHA and Th(NO₃)₄·3TOOHA. In addition, the influence of concentration of sodium nitrate as salting-out agent on the distribution ratio of U(VI) and Th(IV) with TOOHA was also evaluated.     

Kinetic determination of traces of Th(IV) on the basis of its catalytic effect in environmental water samples

A new analytic kinetic-catalytic method based on catalytic effect of traces of Th(IV) on the reaction oxidation of 4-hydroxycoumarin by KMnO₄ were developed and validated in this study. The linearity of the method was obtained in the range of concentrations of Th(IV) from 0.2 to 2 ??g mL^?1. The probable relative error is in the interval from 7.88 to 3.50% for the range of concentration of Th(IV) from 0.5 to 2 ??g mL^?1. Kinetic equations of investigated reactions were established. The proposed kinetic method was directly applied on determination of Th(IV) in environmental water samples. It was found that the results of Th(IV) determination in water samples obtained by proposed kinetic method and comparative atomic absorption spectrometry method were statistically agreeable.     

Construction of a new solid-state U(VI) ion-selective electrode based on polypyrrole conducting polymer

In this study, a potentiometric sensor based on a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) coated with polypyrrole doped with uranyl zinc acetate (termed PGE/PPy/U) have been prepared for potentiometric determination of uranyl in aqueous solutions. Electropolymerization reaction for preparing of U(VI) sensor electrode was carried via applying a constant current of 1.0 mA on PGA working electrode in a solution containing 8.0 mM pyrrole and 0.8 mM ZnUO₂(CH₃COO)₄ salt. The constructed electrode displayed a linear and near Nernstian response (22.60 ± 0.40 mV/decade) to U(VI) ions in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^?6–1.0 × 10^?2 M. A detection limit of 6.30 × 10^?7 M and a fast response time (≤12 s) was observed during measurements. The working pH range of the electrode was 4.0–8.0 and lifetime of the sensor was at least 60 days. The electrode revealed good selectivity with respect to many cations including alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The introduced uranyl electrode was used for measurement of U(VI) ion in real samples without any serious inferences from other ions.     

Adsorptive removal of U(VI) from aqueous solution by hydrothermal carbon spheres with phosphate group

The phosphorylated hydrothermal carbon spheres (HCS-PO₄) were developed by functionalizing hydrothermal carbon spheres (HCS) with o-phosphoethanolamine, and the structure and textural property were characterized by SEM and FT-IR. The parameters that affect the uranium(VI) sorption, such as solution pH, initial U(VI) concentration, contact time, and temperature, had been investigated. The HCS-PO₄ showed the highest uranium sorption capacity at initial pH 6.0 and contact time of 120 min. The adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption process could be well defined by the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity increased from 80.00 to 434.78 mg/g after phosphorylation. The thermodynamic parameters, ?G° (298 K), ?H° and ?S°, demonstrated shown that the sorption process of U(VI) onto HCS-PO₄ was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The spent HCS-PO₄ could be effectively regenerated by 0.1 mol/L EDTA solution for the removal and recovery of U(VI) and reused for ten cycles at least. Selective adsorption studies showed that the HCS-PO₄ could selectively remove U(VI), and the selectivity coefficients of HCS in the presence of co-existing ions, Mg(II), Na(I), Zn(II), Mn(II),Co(II), Ni(II), Sr(II), Cs(I) and Hg(II) improved after functionalization.     

Determination of Bromide,Chloride, and Fluoride in Cigarette Tobacco by Ion Chromatography after Microwave-Induced Combustion

A microwave-induced combustion (MIC) method was applied for cigarette tobacco digestion and further determination of bromide (Br), chloride (Cl), and fluoride (F) by ion chromatography (IC). Samples (up to 500 mg) were combusted at 20 bar of oxygen. Combustion was complete in less than 30 s, and analytes were absorbed in (NH₄)₂CO₃ solutions. A reflux step, not available in other systems, was applied to improve analyte absorption. Absorbing solution with 50 mmol L^?1(NH₄)₂CO₃ was selected because it showed recovery close to 100% for samples containing spikes of halogens. Accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials and the agreement was better than 97% for all analytes using 50 mmol L^?1 (NH₄)₂CO₃ as absorbing solution and 5 min of reflux. Temperature during combustion was higher than 1400°C and the residual carbon content was always lower than 1%. With the use of the MIC system, up to eight samples could be processed simultaneously, and a single absorbing solution was suitable for all analytes. Limits of quantification by MIC and further IC determination were 0.50, 0.20, and 0.10 µg g^?1 for Br, Cl, and F, respectively.     

Application of hollow fiber supported liquid membrane for the separation of americium from the analytical waste

Americium from analytical solid waste containing U and metallic impurities was separated using hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) technique impregnated with DHOA–TODGA from nitric acid medium. An aliquot of 5 g of the solid waste containing Am (19.95 mg) as minor actinide and of U (2,588 mg), Fe (1,360 mg), Ca (1,810 mg) and Na (3,130 mg) as major impurities was processed. The feed solution obtained after the dissolution of the residue in ~4 M HNO₃ was passed through HFSLM module. In the first stage using 1 M DHOA–dodecane U was recovered while Am and other impurities were left in the raffinate. In the second stage, 0.5 M DHOA + 0.1 M TODGA/dodecane was used for the separation of Am from other impurities. Though, majority of the elements were separated in this cycle, Ca was co extracted along with the americium. CMPO extraction chromatographic technique was used for further separation of americium from Ca. Significant decontamination factors were achieved in this three step separation process with respect to U, Fe, Na and Ca with ~77 % recovery of americium.     

Study of scandium and thorium sorption from uranium leach liquors

Scandium and thorium sorption from simulated uranium leach liquors by phosphorous containing ion exchange resins was studied. Increase of thorium concentration resulted in a decrease of scandium sorption by 26–65%. Tulsion CH 93 resin was chosen for Sc separation from uranium leach liquors. It was shown that 180 g L^?1 Na₂CO₃ allowed for elution 94.1% of Sc and 98.9% of Th in dynamic conditions. Using (NH₄)₂SO₄ (50 g L^?1) + ACBM (180 g L^?1) mixture for primary Sc/Th separation at the resin/eluent ratio of 1:5 resulted in thorium desorption degree as high as 66–69%, whereas scandium loss did not exceed 10%.     

Effect of EDTA on the diffusion behavior of 99TcO4 − and ReO4 − in GMZ bentonite

Polyaminopolycarboxylate EDTA with powerful metal-binding property, which often presents in low and intermediate-level waste, can enhance the radionuclide migration. The effect of EDTA on the diffusion behavior of ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^? and ReO₄ ^? in Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite was investigated by using through-diffusion method. For ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^? in present of EDTA, the D _e values was (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10^?11 m²/s, which was 4 times higher than that in absent of EDTA. It can be explained that the complexation between ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^? and EDTA might be formed. By contrast, the D _e values of ReO₄ ^? remained unchanged in present or absent of EDTA, indicating that ReO₄ ^? could not complex with EDTA. However, the diffusion of ReO₄ ^? could be increased in present of EDTA, the D _a value was found to be increased from 1.8 × 10^?10 to 5.4 × 10^?10 m²/s. It demonstrated that ReO₄ ^? need more drastic conditions to form the Re(VII)–EDTA complexes than those used for ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^?. For both ReO₄ ^? and ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^?, the rock capacity factor α is less than the total porosity ε _tot, indicating that they has little retention/sorption on the surface of bentonite.     

Determination of Total Arsenic in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge Samples by Using Hydride-Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry Under the Optimized Analytical Conditions

In this work, an improved hydride-generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) method for the determination of total arsenic (As) in wastewater and sewage sludge samples was applied. The samples were digested completely with mixtures of HNO₃ and HClO₄. Analytical conditions were studied and optimized through uniform experimental design U*₁₀(10⁸) combined with a single factor test. A mathematical model was established, and a quadratic polynomial stepwise regression analysis by using the DPS software was employed to obtain the factors that impact the fluorescence intensity. This technique is then combined with a single factor test. The optimized experimental conditions were obtained as follows: PMT voltage was 305 V, lamp current was 70 mA, KBH₄ concentration was 2.0% (m/v), carrier liquid (HCl) concentration was 5% (v/v), carrier gas (Ar) flow rate was 300 mL min^?1, and reaction acidity was 10% (v/v) HCl. The pre-reduction of all forms of As to As(III) was performed by using a mixed solution of 1% thiourea and 1% ascorbic acid. The content of total As was determined under the optimized experimental conditions. The detection limits for total As in wastewater and sewage sludge were 0.09 µg L^?1 and 0.01 mg kg^?1, respectively. The linear ranges were 0.24–100 µg L^?1, and the recovery was 91.0–102.0%. The relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) for eleven replicate measurements of the certified reference materials containing 60.6 ± 4.2 µg L^?1 As (certified sample of water) and 10.7 ± 0.8 mg kg^?1 As (certified sample of soil) were 3.1% and 1.6%, respectively. The proposed method was validated by the analysis of certified reference materials and was successfully applied to the determination of total As in real samples of wastewater and sewage sludge with satisfactory results.     

Adsorptive removal of U(VI) and Th(IV) from aqueous solutions using polymer-based electrospun PEO/PLLA fibrous membranes

Fibrous membranes based on poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(l-lactide) fabricated by electrospinning were evaluated for the first time as substrates for the adsorption of tetravalent thorium (Th(IV)) and hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) from aqueous media. The membranes consisted of microfibers with diameters of approximately 2 μm as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on the membrane was investigated as a function of pH, ionic strength and initial metal concentration under normal atmospheric conditions. The experimental data indicated increased affinity of the membrane for Th(IV) and U(VI), which was pH depended and reaches maximum values (>90 %) for Th(IV) and U(VI) at pH 3 and pH 6.5, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (q _max) at optimum conditions was evaluated from the Langmuir isotherm and was found to amount 50.08 and 9.3 mmol kg^?1 for Th(IV) and U(VI), respectively. In addition, studies on the effect of ionic strength on the adsorption efficiency did not show any significant effect indicating that the adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on the membrane was most probably based on specific interactions and the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes. The significantly higher adsorption efficiency of the membrane for Th(IV) in acidic media (pH ≤ 3) could be utilized for a pH-triggered, selective separation of Th(IV) from U(VI) from aqueous media.     

Solvent extraction of Cu,Mo, V,and U from leach solutions of copper ore and flotation tailings

A micro-cloud point extraction method was discussed for preconcentration and spectrophotometric quantification of U(VI). The method depends on complex formation between U(VI) and 2-(4-sulphophenyloazo)-1,8-dihydroxy-3,6-naphtalenedisulphonic acid (SPADNS) at pH 7.0 and subsequent extraction of the complex in a mixed surfactant medium (cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and Triton X-114). The separation was carried out in the presence of 1% Na₂SO₄ at room temperature. The calibration curve was linear up to 3000 µg L^?1. The enrichment factor, detection limit and precision were 16.0, 1.05 µg L^?1, and 2.3%, respectively. The method was employed for the determination of U(VI) in real samples with different matrices.     

Extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) from perchlorate media, by PC-88A

Extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) has been investigated from perchlorate media using 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A) dissolved in toluene. The extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) was found to be quantitative in the pH range 1.6 to 3.2, 2.0 to 4.7 and 2.3 to 3.8, respectively, with 3.0^.10^-3, 5.6^.10^-4 and 1.0^.10^-2M PC-88A dissolved in toluene. U(VI) was stripped with 4.0M HCl, Zr(IV) with 2.5M NaF and Th(IV) with 8.0M HCl from the metal loaded organic phase containing PC-88A dissolved in toluene. The probable extracted species have been ascertained by plotting log D vs. log [HR] as UO₂R₂ ^.2HR, ZrR₄ ^.2HR and ThR₄ ^.4HR, respectively. U(VI) was separated from Zr(IV) and Th(IV) and from other associated metals. This method was proved by the determination of U(VI) in some real samples.     

Removal of uranium(VI) from aqueous solutions by new phosphorus-containing carbon spheres synthesized via one-step hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in the presence of phosphoric acid

The novel phosphorus-rich hydrothermal carbon spheres (HCSs–PO₄) have been synthesized via one-step hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in the presence of phosphoric acid. The textural and surface chemistry properties were characterized using Boehm titrations, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The content of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of HCSs increased from 0.053 to 1.009 mmol g^?1 by phosphate group modification. The adsorption ability of HCSs–PO₄ has been explored for the removal of uranium from aqueous solutions. The adsorption kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second-order equation. Adsorption process could be well defined by the Langmuir isotherm, the adsorption capacity of HCSs increased from 80.00 to 285.70 mg g^?1 after phosphate group modification. And thermodynamic parameters indicated the adsorption process was feasible,endothermic and spontaneous. Selective adsorption studies showed that the HCSs–PO₄ could selectively remove U(VI), and the selectivity coefficients had been improved in the presence of co-existing ions, Na(I), Ni(II), Sr(II), Mn(II), Mg(II) and Zn(II). Complete removal (99.9 %) of U(VI) from 1.0 L industry wastewater containing 15.0 mg U(VI) ions was possible with 12.0 g HCSs–PO₄.     

Purification and Characterization of Agarase from Marine Bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter</Emphasis> sp. PS12B and Its Use for Preparing Bioactive Hydrolysate from Agarophyte Red Seaweed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gracilaria verrucosa</Emphasis>

Acinetobacter strain PS12B was isolated from marine sediment and was found to be a good candidate to degrade agar and produce agarase enzyme. The extracellular agarase enzyme from strain PS12B was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography. The specific activity of the crude enzyme which was 1.52 U increased to 45.76 U, after two-stage purification, with an enzyme yield of 9.76%. Purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 24 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for activity of purified agarase were found to be 8.0 and 40 °C, respectively. The K_m and V_max values for agarase were 4.69 mg/ml and 0.5 μmol/min, respectively. Treatment with EDTA reduced the agarase activity by 58% at 5 mM concentration. The enzyme activity was stimulated by the presence of Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Ca2⁺ ions while reducing reagents (β-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, DTT) enhanced its activity by 30–40%. The purified agarase exhibited tolerance to both detergents and organic solvents. Major hydrolysis products of agar were DP4 and also a mixture of longer oligosaccharides DP6 and DP7. The enzyme hydrolysed seaweed (Gracilaria verrucosa) exhibited strong antioxidant activity in vitro. Successful hydrolysis of seaweed indicates the potential use of the enzyme to produce seaweed hydrolysate having health benefits as well as the industrial application like the production of biofuels.