Thermogravimetric analysis of wheatleyite Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>·2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Evidence for the existence of primitive life forms such as lichens and fungi can be based upon the formation of oxalates. These oxalates form as a film like deposit on rocks and other host matrices. The anhydrous oxalate mineral moolooite CuC₂O₄ as the natural copper(II) oxalate mineral is a classic example. Another example of a natural oxalate is the mineral wheatleyite Na₂Cu²⁺(C₂O₄)₂·2H₂O. High resolution thermogravimetry coupled to evolved gas mass spectrometry shows decomposition of wheatleyite at 255°C. Two higher temperature mass losses are observed at 324 and 349°C. Higher temperature mass losses are observed at 819, 833 and 857°C. These mass losses as confirmed by mass spectrometry are attributed to the decomposition of tennerite CuO. In comparison the thermal decomposition of moolooite takes place at 260°C. Evolved gas mass spectrometry for moolooite shows the gas lost at this temperature is carbon dioxide. No water evolution was observed, thus indicating the moolooite is the anhydrous copper(II) oxalate as compared to the synthetic compound which is the dihydrate.     

Neutron diffraction study of Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(SeO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> · 2D<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

A powder of deuterated rubidium diselenatouranylate dihydrate Rb₂UO₂(SeO₄)₂ · 2D₂O has been studied by neutron diffraction. The compound is orthorhombic, space group Pna2₁, with the following unit cell parameters: a = 13.654(2) Å, b = 11.863(2) Å, c = 7.625(1) Å, Z = 4, R _F = 3.77, R _I = 6.12, and χ² = 2.21. Basic structure units are [UO₂(SeO₄)₂ · D₂O]^2? layers belonging to the AB ₂ ² M¹ crystal-chemical group (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , B² = SeO ₄ ^2? , M¹ = D₂O) of uranyl complexes. The hydrogen atoms if the water molecules involved in the layer form intralayer hydrogen bonds with the terminal oxygen atoms of selenate ions. The outer-sphere water molecules are coordinated to the rubidium ions and are involved in hydrogen bonding with oxygen atoms of neighboring [UO₂(SeO₄)₂ · D₂O]^2? layers.     

Calorimetric studies on 2TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses

Glasses of the composition 2TeO₂–V₂O₅ were fabricated via the conventional melt-quenching technique. The amorphous and the glassy nature of the as-quenched samples were confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The glass transition and crystallization parameters were evaluated under non-isothermal conditions using DSC. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the presence of partially oriented crystallites in the heat-treated glasses. Kauzmann temperature (lower bound for the kinetically observed glass transition) was deduced from the heating rate dependent glass transition and crystallization temperatures.     

Solubility in the system 2HCOONa + CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> ⇄ (HCOO)<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ca + 2NaCl–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Phase and conversion equilibria in the quaternary reciprocal water–salt system 2HCOONa + CaCl₂ ? (HCOO)₂Ca + 2NaCl–H₂O at 25°C were studied for the first time to determine the concentration parameters of the production of calcium formate from sodium formate.     

Structure and thermal decomposition of Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>HPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · 2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The thermal transformations of disubstituted cesium orthophosphate crystal hydrate under heating in air up to 400°C have been studied. The dehydration process occurs in two stages with the loss of 0.6 water molecules at 60?100°C and 1.4 water molecules at 100?160°C. Anhydrous Cs₂HPO₄ is stable up to 300°C and is completely converted into cesium pyrophosphate Cs₄P₂O₇ at 330°C. The structure of Cs₂HPO₄ · 2H₂O has been determined. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/c and has the unit cell parameters a = 7.4761(5) Å, b = 14.2125(8) Å, c = 7.9603(6) Å, β = 116.914(5)°, V = 754.20(9) ų, and Z = 4 at?123°C. An earlier unknown polymorph of Cs₄P₂O₇ has been found. According to X-ray powder diffraction data, hexagonal space group Р6₃ has been proposed for the formed pyrophosphate.     

Reciprocal system 3Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>S + Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript> ⇆ 3Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se + Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Phase equilibria in the reciprocal system 3Tl₂S + Sb₂Se₃ ? 3Tl₂Se + Sb₂S₃ are investigated by DTA, X-ray powder diffraction, and emf measurements. Some polythermal sections, the isothermal section of the phase diagram at 400K, and the liquidus-surface projection for this system are constructed. The types and coordinates of invariant and univariant equilibria are determined. It is shown that the system is non-diagonal. Broad regions of solid solutions are found on the basis of the binary compounds Tl₂S and Tl₂Se and along the boundary system Sb₂S₃-Sb₂Se₃ and the sections Tl₃SbS₃-Tl₃SbSe₃, TlSbS₂-TlSbSe₂, and TlSb₃S₅-TlSb₃Se₅ of the phase diagram.     

Non-isothermal crystallization of K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O·TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>·3GeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass

The crystallization of K₂O·TiO₂·3GeO₂ glass under non-isothermal condition was studied. In powdered glass with particle sizes less than 0.15 mm, surface crystallization was dominant and an activation energy of crystal growth of E _a,s=327±50 kJ mol⁻¹ was calculated. In the size range 0.15 to 0.45 mm, both surface and volume crystallization occurred. For particle sizes >0.45 mm, volume crystallization dominated with spherulitic morphology of the crystals growth and E _a,v=359±64 kJ mol⁻¹ was calculated.     

Diagram of the PbF<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SnF<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

A phase diagram of the PbF₂–SnF₂ system has been studied by differential thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. The system forms Pb_1–хSn_хF₂ (х ≤ 0.33) solid solution and three compounds. Pb₂SnF₆ decomposes in solid state by a peritectoid reaction at 350°С; Pb₃Sn₂F₁₀ and PbSnF₄ melt by peritectic reactions at 565 and 380°С, respectively. The eutectic coordinates are 180°С, 90 mol % SnF₂.     

Proton conductivity and spectral data of Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>HPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · 2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The Cs₂HPO₄ · 2H₂O single crystals synthesized from an aqueous solution containing equimolar amounts of H₃PO₄ and Cs₂CO₃ were studied by impedance and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The IR spectra were analyzed in accordance with the structural data, and the absorption bands were assigned. The proton conductivity was studied at temperatures in the range 20–250°C. The conductivity of dehydrated Cs₂HPO₄ was low, ~10^–5–10^–9 S cm^–1 at 90–250°C with an activation energy of conductivity E _a = 1.1 eV at 130–250°C. The processes determining the character of the temperature dependence of conductivity were consistent with the DSC and thermogravimetry data. According to these data, dehydration of the crystalline hydrate Cs₂HPO₄ · 2H₂O starts at 60°C and occurs in three stages, forming Cs₂HPO₄ · 1.5H₂O below 100°C; anhydrous Cs₂HPO₄ at t > 160°C, which is stable up to 300°C; and Cs₄P₂O₇ above 330°C.     

Crystal structure of Cs[(UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OH)] · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Single crystals of Cs[(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₂(OH)] · H₂O were synthesized and structurally studied using X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/m, Z = 2, with the unit cell parameters a = 5.5032(4) Å, b = 13.5577(8) Å, c = 9.5859(8) Å, β = 97.012(3)°, V = 709.86(9) ų, R = 0.0444. The main building units of crystals are [(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₂(OH)]^? layers of the A₂K ₂ ⁰² M² (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , K⁰² = C₂O ₄ ^2? , and M² = OH^?) crystal-chemical family. Uranium-containing layers are linked into a three-dimensional framework via electrostatic interactions with outer-sphere cations and hydrogen bonds with water molecules.     

Crystal structure of Ba<Subscript>3</Subscript>[UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NCS)]<Subscript>2</Subscript> · 9H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Single crystals of Ba₃[UO₂(C₂O₄)₂(NCS)]₂ · 9H₂O are synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Fddd, Z = 16, and the unit cell parameters are a = 16.253(3) Å, b = 22.245(3) Å, c = 39.031(6) Å. The main crystal structural units are mononuclear complex groups [UO₂(C₂O₄)₂NCS]^3? of the crystal-chemical family (AB ₂ ⁰¹ M¹ (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , B⁰¹ = C₂O ₄ ^2? , M¹ = NCS^?) of the uranyl complexes linked into a three-dimensional framework by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds involving oxalate ions and water molecules.     

Thermodynamic Properties and Thermal Expansion of Tm<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> · 2ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Solid Solution

The isobaric heat capacity of Tm₂O₃ · 2ZrO₂ solid solution was measured by adiabatic calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and smoothed values of the enthalpy changes, entropy, and reduced Gibbs free energy in the temperature range 8–1200 K were calculated. Thermal expansion was studied by X-ray diffraction in the temperature range 298–1173 K.     

Oxidative leaching of uranium from SIMFUEL using Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> solution

A feasibility and basic study to find a possibility to develop such a process for recovering U alone from spent fuel by using the methods of an oxidative leaching and a precipitation of U in high alkaline carbonate media was newly suggested with the characteristics of a highly enhanced proliferation-resistance and more environmental friendliness. This study has focused on the examination of an oxidative leaching of uranium from SIMFUEL powders contained 16 elements (U, Ce, Gd, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, Eu, Y, Mo, Pd, Ru, Zr, Ba, Sr, and Te) using a Na₂CO₃ solution with hydrogen peroxide. U₃O₈ was dissolved more rapidly than UO₂ in a carbonate solution. However, in the presence of H₂O₂, we can find out that the leaching rates of the reduced SIMFUEL powder are faster than the oxidized SIMFUEL powder. In carbonate solutions with hydrogen peroxide, uranium oxides were dissolved in the form of uranyl peroxo-carbonato complexes. UO₂(O₂) _x (CO₃) _y ^2−2x−2y , where x/y has 1/2, 2/1.     

Solid-Liquid Equilibria in the Quaternary Systems KCl–MgCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SrCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and NaCl–KCl–SrCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O at 348 K

Solid-liquid equilibria in the quaternary systems KCl–MgCl₂–SrCl₂–H₂O and NaCl–KCl–SrCl₂–H₂O at 348 K were measured by the isothermal solution saturation method. The composition of the equilibrium solid phase, solubilities of salts, and densities of saturated solution in the two systems were determined. Phase diagrams, water content diagrams and solution density diagrams of quaternary systems were plotted according to experimental data. The phase diagram of the quaternary system NaCl–KCl–SrCl₂–H₂O has one invariant point, three univariant curves as the boundary of NaCl, KCl and SrCl₂ · 2H₂O. This phase diagrams were simple co-saturation type without complex salt and solid solution. For the quaternary system KCl–MgCl₂–SrCl₂–H₂O, one complex salt KCl · MgCl₂ · 6H₂O (Car) had been found in this system, consisted of five univariant curves, two invariant points and four crystallization regions of MgCl₂ · 6H₂O (Bis), KCl, SrCl₂ · 2H₂O and KCl · MgCl₂ · 6H₂O. And the densities transformation rules were simply discussed. Simultaneously, the solubilities and densities data in invariant point of the quaternary system NaCl–KCl–SrCl₂–H₂O had been compared with the experimental data of previous researchers.     

Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-K<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system at 25°C

Phase formation in the Na₂MoO₄-K₂MoO₄-H₂O system was studied at 25°C. Two incongruently saturating complex phases are formed in this system: Na₃K(MoO₄)₂ · 9H₂O and NaK₃(MoO₄)₂. The densities, refractive indices, and dynamic viscosities of saturated solutions of the system were determined; molar volume and ionic strength isotherms were calculated. A correlation relation was found between solubility and solution properties in the system. The indicated double salts were recovered and characterized using chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, complex thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of Co<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> · 6H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The dependence of solid phase composition on the main parameters of the interaction in the CoSO₄-K₄P₂O₇-H₂O system was studied. The synthesis conditions were determined and a crystalline cobalt(II) diphosphat of the composition Co₂P₂O₇ · 6H₂O was synthesized. Its thermal properties were studied. The composition and the intervals, wherein the thermally stable products of partial and complete dehydration of Co₂P₂O₇ · 6H₂O are formed, were specified. The final heat treatment product, anhydrous α-Co₂P₂O₇, was identified and a sequence of the solid phase thermal transformations accompanying its formation was established.     

Thermoelectric power and electrochemical studies on CdI<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

A quaternary super-ion-conducting system, 20CdI₂ − 80[xAg₂O − y(0.7V₂O₅ − 0.3B₂O₃)] where 1 ≤ x/y ≤ 3, has been prepared by melt quenching technique. The electrical conductivity measured was the order of 10⁻⁴  S/cm at room temperature. The values of silver-ion transport number obtained by electromotive force technique are nearly unity. The thermoelectric power and electrochemical studies were done on the CdI₂–Ag₂O–V₂O₅–B₂O₃ system. The discharge and polarization characteristics were examined for different cathodes to evaluate the utility of these cells as power sources for low energy applications.     

Single-phased white-light emitting CaAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>Si<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript>: Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> phosphors prepared by a sol–gel method

CaAl₂Si₂O₈: Eu²⁺, Mn²⁺ phosphors have been prepared by a sol–gel method. X-ray diffractometer, spectrofluorometer and UV–Vis spectrometer were used to characterize structural and optical properties of the samples. The results indicate that anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈) directly crystallizes at 1000 °C in the sol–gel process. CaAl₂Si₂O₈: Eu²⁺, Mn²⁺ phosphors show two emission bands excited by ultraviolet light. Blue (around 415 nm) and yellow (around 575 nm) emissions originate from Eu²⁺ and Mn²⁺, respectively. With appropriate tuning of Mn²⁺ content, CaAl₂Si₂O₈: Eu²⁺, Mn²⁺ phosphors exhibit different hues and relative color temperatures.     

Crystal Structure of Neptunium(V) Acetate [(NpO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OOCCH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)] ⋅ 2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

A new neptunium(V) complex [(NpO₂)₂(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)] ? 2H₂O was synthesized and its crystal structure was determined. The unit cell parameters are: a = 24.007(10) Å, b = 6.779(3) Å, c = 8.076(3) Å, space group Pnma, Z = 4, V = 1314.2(9) ų, R = 0.049, wR(F²) = 0.105. The crystal structure of the compound is composed of neutral [(NpO₂)₂(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)] layers and molecules of the water of crystallization. Each of the crystallographically independent neptunoyl ions performs a bidentate function thus forming a composite system of cation-cation bonds.