Complexation of plutonium(IV) with sulfate at variable temperatures

The complexation of plutonium(IV) with sulfate at variable temperatures has been investigated by solvent extraction method. A NaBrO₃ solution was used as holding oxidant to maintain the plutonium(IV) oxidation state throughout the experiments. The distribution ratio of Pu(IV) between the organic and aqueous phases was found to decrease as the concentrations of sulfate were increased. Stability constants of the 1:1 and 1:2 Pu(IV)-HSO₄ ⁻ complexes, dominant in the aqueous phase, were calculated from the effect of [HSO₄ ⁻] on the distribution ratio. The enthalpy and entropy of complexation were calculated from the stability constants at different temperatures using the Van’t Hoff equation.     

Substitution reactions of thorium(IV) acetate to synthesize nano-sized carboxylate complexes

Some mixed-ligand thorium(IV) complexes with the general formula [Th(OOCCH₃)_4?nL_n] (L = anions of myristic, palmitic or stearic acid and n = 1–4) have been synthesized by the stepwise substitution of acetate ions of thorium(IV) acetate with straight chain carboxylic acids in toluene under reflux. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, spectral (electronic, infrared, NMR and powder XRD) studies, electrical conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Doubly and triply bridged coordination modes of the ligands were established by their infrared spectra and nano-size of the complexes by powder XRD. Room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed diamagnetic nature of the complexes. Electronic absorption spectra of the complexes showed π → π*, n → π* and charge transfer transitions. Molar conductance values indicated the complex to be non-electrolytes. These are a new type of mixed-ligand thorium(IV) complexes for which a nano-sized, oxygen bridged polymeric structure has been established on the basis of physico-chemical studies.     

Complexes of thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) with some Schiff bases

Complexes of thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) with Schiff bases derived from salicylaldehyde have been prepared and characterised. The metal tetrachlorides react directly with quadridentate Schiff bases in ethanol to yield the complexes but bidentate Schiff bases yield hydrolysed products under the same conditions. Complexes of the bidentate Schiff bases are obtained by reaction of ligand with metal tetraacetate in a melt or by ligand exchange with the thallium-Schiff base complex. Absorption spectra are reported and band assignments are discussed.     

Solvent extraction of thorium (IV) with dialkyldithiophosphoric acids

Solvent extraction of thorium (IV) from aqueous solution with dialkyldithiophosphoric acids (RO)₂P(S)SH, (abbreviated Hdtp) in different organic solvents shows that the chain length in Hdtp significantly influence the magnitude of the distribution ratio. The diluent effect and the influence of the inorganic anion present in the aqueous phase was investigated in the Th — di (2-ethyl-hexyl) dithiophosphoric acid (HEhdtp) extraction system. The treatment of the partition data shows that the extraction of Th(IV) in benzene, cyclohexane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and n-butanol from perchlorate, chloride and nitrate media occurs via an ion-exchange mechanism. Inorganic anions present in the aqueous phase do not participate in the formation of the extracted species but influence the magnitude of the distribution ratios.     

Extraction studies of thorium(IV) with triphenylphosphine oxide

A simple method is described for the solvent extraction of thorium. Thorium is extracted quantitatively from 5·10^–3M sodium salicylate solution at pH 2.5–3.25 using 2.16·10^–2M triphenylphosphine oxide as an extractant dissolved in toluene. The extracted metal ion is stripped with hydrochloric acid (0.1M) and determined spectrophotometrically with Thoron-1 at 540 nm. The method permits separation of thorium from lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, samarium and uranium from binary mixtures and is applicable to the analysis of monazite sand. The method is precise, accurate and selective.     

Enthalpy of reaction of thorium(IV) with oxalate

We have employed titration calorimetry to investigate the aqueous solution chemistry of the Th(IV) + oxalate coordination system. The enthalpies of formation of the two oxalic acid species and the first Th-oxalate complex have been measured at an ionic strength I=1.0M and temperature t=25°C. Corresponding entropy values were calculated from the van't Hoff equation, and a thermodynamic summary of the Th/H/oxalate system is presented in a table.     

Kinetics of thorium(IV) and lanthanum(III) extraction from aqueous salt solutions with composite material based on trialkylamine and polymeric support at various temperatures

The kinetics of thorium(IV) and lanthanum(III) extraction from aqueous salt solutions with a composite material based on trialkylamine and a polymeric support at 293.15–333.15 K was studied. The mass transfer coefficients were found, and the apparent activation energy of the extraction reaction was estimated.     

Phase equilibria at various temperatures in the ternary liquid system containing solvates of thorium(IV) and uranyl(VI) nitrates with tri-n-butyl phosphate and tetradecane

The phase diagram of the ternary liquid system [Th(NO₃)₄(TBP)₂]-[UO₂(NO₃)₂(TBP)₂]-tetradecane (where TBP stands for tri-n-butyl phosphate) has been investigated at temperatures from 298.15 to 333.15 K. The ternary liquid system is characterized by a region of homogeneous solutions and a region of two-phase liquid systems (stratified systems). One phase is enriched with solvates [Th(NO₃)₄(TBP)₃] and [UO₂(NO₃)₂(TBP)₂] (phase I), and the other is enriched with tetradecane (phase II). The temperature (T = 298.15–333.15 K) does not substantially affect the two-phase region. In the two-phase systems, the preferential distribution of [UO₂(NO₃)₂(TBP)₂] into phase I is observed in spite of the fact that the binary system [UO₂(NO₃)₂(TBP)₂]-tetradecane is a single phase at all temperatures investigated. The distribution of [UO₂(NO₃)₂(TBP)₂] into phase I leads to the redistribution of [Th(NO₃)₄(TBP)₂] into phase II. At all temperatures investigated, the critical solution points of the ternary liquid system have compositions with close contents of the solvates [Th(NO₃)₄(TBP)₂] and [UO₂(NO₃)₂(TBP)₂].     

Extraction chromatographic separation of thorium (IV) with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO)

Thorium was extracted from a mixture of nitric acid and NaNO₃ of 0.01M each at pH 2.2 on a column of silica gel coated with TOPO. Thorium was separated from alkalis, alkaline earths, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, cadmium, mercury, lead, trivalent rare earths, platinum group metals, chloride, phosphate and acetate in binary mixtures by selective extraction of thorium. Thorium was separated from cerium (IV), zirconium, uranium and molybdenum by selective elution of thorium with 0.01M H₂SO₄. The method was extended for the analysis of thorium in monozite ore.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of thorium (IV) with hexaacetato calix(6)arene

Thorium(IV) was quantitatively extracted at pH 7.5 with 0.0001M of hexaacetato calix(6)arene in toluene and after stripping with 0.05M nitric acid, it was determined spectrophotometrically at 545 nm with thoron. Thorium(IV) was separated from commonly associated elements in fission products like uranium(VI), cesium(I), lead(II), strontium(II) and cerium(IV) in varying proportions. The method is simple, rapid, selective and applicable for the microgram concentrations of thorium(IV).     

Thermogravimetric studies of dipyridinium complexes of cerium(IV), thorium(IV) and zirconium(IV)

The TG curves of dipyridinium complexes of Ce(IV), Th(IV) and Zr(IV) have been reported. The mode of decomposition of the cerium and thorium complexes is broadly comparable but the decomposition of Zr complex shows some variation.     

Complexation of benzoannelated porphyrazines with magnesium(II) acetate in pyridine

The reaction of complex formation of magnesium with benzoannelated trifluoromethylphenylporphyrazines in pyridine was studied and its kinetic parameters were determined. The reaction mechanism was proposed. The successive introduction of benzene rings into a porphyrazine molecule was shown to decrease the rate of complex formation reaction.     

Complexation of lactate with neodymium(III) and europium(III) at variable temperatures: studies by potentiometry, microcalorimetry, optical absorption, and luminescence spectroscopy

The complexation of neodymium(III) and europium(III) with lactate was studied at variable temperatures by potentiometry, absorption spectrophotometry, luminescence spectroscopy, and microcalorimetry. The stability constants of three successive lactate complexes (ML(2+), ML(2)(+), and ML(3)(aq), where M stands for Nd and Eu and L stands for lactate) at 10, 25, 40, 55, and 70 °C were determined. The enthalpies of complexation at 25 °C were determined by microcalorimetry. Thermodynamic data show that the complexation of trivalent lanthanides (Nd(3+) and Eu(3+)) with lactate is exothermic and the complexation becomes weaker at higher temperatures. Results from optical absorption and luminescence spectroscopy suggest that the complexes are inner-sphere chelate complexes in which the protonated α-hydroxyl group of lactate participates in the complexation.     

Synthesis and characterization of thorium(IV) sulfates

Three Th(IV) sulfates, two new and one previously reported, have been synthesized from aqueous solution. In all of the compounds, the sulfate anions coordinate the Th(4+) metal center(s) in a monodentate manner with Th-S distances of 3.7-3.8 ?. Th(SO(4))(2)(H(2)O)(7)·2(H(2)O) (1; P2(1)/m, a = 7.224(1) ?, b = 12.151(1) ?, c = 7.989(1) ?, ss =98.289(2)°) and Th(4)(SO(4))(7)(H(2)O)(7)(OH)(2)·H(2)O (2; Pnma, a = 18.139(2) ?, b = 11.173(1) ?, c = 14.391(2) ?) each contain 9-coordinate monomeric (1,2) and dimeric (2) Th(IV) cations in monocapped square antiprism geometry. Alternatively, Th(OH)(2)SO(4) (3; Pnma, a = 11.684(1) ?, b = 6.047(1) ?, c = 7.047(1) ?) is built from chains of hydroxo-bridged, 8-coordinate Th(4+) centers. Whereas 1 adopts a molecular structure, 2 and 3 both exhibit 3D architectures. Differences in the dimensionality and the topology of 1-3 are manifested in the local coordination environment about the Th(IV) centers, the formation of oligomeric Th(4+) species, and the extended connectivity of the sulfate ligands. Herein, we report the syntheses and characterization of 1-3 as well as the atomic correlations of 1 in solution, as determined by high-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS).     

Extraction studies of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) with tributylphosphine oxide

Clay minerals occur widely in nature and play a very important role in agriculture, mineral recovery and chemical manufacturing. Among the many properties which affect clay behaviour, water binding and ion exchanging appear to be the most important. The study of the cation exchange capacity of soils is of great theoretical and practical importance since the CEC determines in many ways the behavior of nutrients, chemical amendments, and many toxic compounds entering the sols. Sorption interactions with montmorillonite and other clay minerals in soils are potantially important mechanisms for attenuating the mobility of heavy metal cations through the subsurface environment. In this work the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of montmorillonite from west Anatolia, and sorptions with montmorillonite for attenuating the mobility of uranium were studied. The CEC value was found to be 77 meq/100 g montmorillonite. The relative importance of test parameters e.g., contact time, particle size, pH and U(+6) aqueous speciation was determined. The results show that sorption on montmorillonite is a funtion of pH depending strongly on the aqueous U(+6) species. It reaches a maximum at near neutral pH(pH}7). At low and at high pH solutions the sorption values of uranium are poor. These sorption values were attributed to the formation of aqueous U(+6) carbonate complexes in alkaline conditions and the ionexchange process between UO₂ ⁺² species and interlayer cations on montmorillonite in acidic solutions.     

Extraction of thorium(IV) with trioctylphosphine oxide from bromide solutions

The extraction of ThBr₄ with trioctylphosphine oxide solutions in cyclohexane has been investigated. It has been shown that the extracted species is the trisolvate ThBr₄· 3TOPO and the corresponding concentration quotient has been calculated. The possibility of sepa ration uranium and thorium by extraction with TOPO in chloroform from bromide system has been discussed.