Extraction of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) from nitric acid solution by N-alkylcaprolactam

Extraction of uranium(VI), thorium(IV) from nitric acid has been studied with N-octylcaprolactam and N-(2-ethyl)hexylcaprolactam. Distribution coefficients of U(VI), Th(IV) and HNO₃ as a function of aqueous NHO₃ concentration, extractant concentration and temperature have been studied. The compositions of extracted species, thermodynamic parameters of extraction have been evaluated. Third phase formation in extraction of U(VI) has been studied. Back extraction behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) from the organic phase has also been tested. The results obtained are compared with those obtained by using TBP under the same experimental conditions.     

Solvent extraction of Tc(VII) by the mixture of TBP and 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether

The extraction of Tc(VII) by the mixture of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) has been studied. 0.2M NPOE-TBP can extract Tc(VII) effectively from 1M HNO₃ and 1M NaOH solutions with distribution ratios of 57.1 and 12.3, respectively. The distribution ratio of Tc(VII) decreases with increasing (>0.5M) HNO₃ concentration but increases with the increase of NaOH concentration. A pH 9 NaOH solution has proven to be suitable for Tc(VII) stripping. A simple extraction-stripping cycle can remove Tc(VII) from a sodium hydroxide solution. A more sophisticated extraction process is proposed to remove Tc(VII) from nitric acid solution because the co-extracted HNO3 prevents the direct stripping of Tc(VII) by NaOH solution of pH 9.     

Extraction of U(VI), Th(IV) and some fission products from nitric acid by n,n-disubstituted amides and effect of γ-ray irradiation on the extraction

In this work, ten disubstituted amides have been synthesized and the extracting ability for U and Th fission products (mainly Zr, Nb and Ru) and the tendency of third phase formation have been studied. From the preliminary studies, two disubstituted amides, N-octylcaprolactam (OCLA) and N-(2-ethyl) hexylcaprolactam (EHCLA) were chosen for further studies. All studies were compared with those obtained by using TBP under exactly the same conditions. The dependence of aqueous nitric acid concentration, extractant concentration, temperature, -ray irradiation on extraction of Th, U and some fission products were studied. Back extraction of Th and U from organic phases and third phase formation were also studied. The studies of the reaction mechanism indicate that Th and U are extracted as disolvates, whereas HNO₃ is extracted as monosolvate. Extraction distribution of Th and U decrease with increase of temperature, indicating the extraction reaction to be exothermic. Preliminary studies show that OCLA and EHCLA have better -irradiation stabilities compared with TBP.     

N-alkylation of substituted pyrazoles and pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines with dimethylformamide diethyl acetal or triethyl orthoformate

The N-alkylation of some substituted pyrazoles and pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines with dimethylformamide diethyl acetal or triethyl orthoformate has been examined. Dimethylformamide diethyl acetal is more effective as an alkylating agent than triethyl orthoformate. Alkylation of 3-methoxycarbonylpyrazole gives a mixture of N-1- and N-2-ethyl derivatives. Alkylation of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines takes place at the 1-position of the pyrazole ring only. In the case of thio-derivatives of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines, S-alkylation occurs in addition to N-alkylation.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 914–919, July, 1988.     

Technetium(VII) extraction by a primary amine and technetium(VII) coprecipitation with ammonium diuranate in hydrofluoric acid solution

The separation of technetium(VII) from uranium(VI) has beeen studied through experiments on the coprecipitation of Tc(VII) with ammonium diuranate precipitate, and in the extraction of Tc(VII) from an aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution using a primary amine (Primene JMT) as an extractant dissolved inn-heptane. The extraction of Tc(VII) reached a quantitative level after several repetitions of the extraction procedure. Also, the stripping of Tc(VII) into 3M aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate was enhanced to a level over 99% by repeating the stripping cycles.     

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.     

Extended application of a chiral stationary phase based on (+)-(1 8-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid to the resolution of N-(substituted benzoyl)-alpha-amino acid amides

A chiral stationary phase (CSP 1) based on (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid was applied to the resolution of N-(substituted benzoyl)-alpha-amino acid amides and esters. N-(Substituted benzoyl)-alpha-amino acid amides were well resolved using a mixture of acetic acid-triethylamine-acetonitrile (0.01:0.05:100, v/v/v) as an optimum mobile phase while N-(substituted benzoyl)-alpha-amino acid esters were not resolved at all. In contrast, both N-(substituted benzoyl)-alpha-amino acid amides and esters were not resolved at all or resolved very poorly on another CSP (CSP 2), which lacks the two N-H hydrogens of the amide tethers of CSP 1. Among the substituents on the benzoyl group of analytes, the nitro group was the best for good resolution of analytes on CSP 1. From these results, the two N-H hydrogens of the amide tethers of CSP 1, the carbonyl oxygen of the amide group of analytes, and the nitro group on the benzoyl group of analytes were concluded to play significant roles in chiral recognition. In addition, various N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine amides with different lengths of N-alkylamide chains were resolved on CSP 1 and N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) leucine N-propylamide was found to show the best chiral recognition in terms of the separation (alpha = 1.30) and the resolution factor (Rs= 3.17).     

Ascorbic acid as an eluent for99mTc in99Mo−99mTc generator system

A simple chromatographic procedure for clean separation of the important radionuclide,^99m Tc, in the equilibrium mixture,⁹⁹Mo−^99mTc, has been demonstrated. Separation of pure^99mTc has been achieved by preferential extraction of the radioisotope through an anion exchange resin column of Amberlite IRA-410 using Na-ascorbate solution at pH 7 as an eluent. The radiochemical purity of the separated radiotracer has been verified by taking recourse to γ-ray spectrometry. The potentiality of the developed procedure lies in the facts that the eluting agent, ascorbic acid, itself h got its own biomedical importance as Vitamin C and the concerned radioisotope can be obtained in both Tc(IV) and Tc(VII) states as per requirement for diagnostic purposes.     

Sorption and separation of some elements of nuclear importance using Chelex-100

Chelex-100, in the anionic form has been studied for its ability to perform selective separation and concentration of some metal ions of nuclear importance from mineral acid solutions. The sorption behavior of Zr(IV)–Nb(V), Mo(VI), Tc(VII), Te(IV) and U(VI) from solutions of hydrochloric and sulphuric acids on Chelex-100 has been studied under static and dynamic conditions. Mo(VI) and Tc(VII) have been concentrated on the resin from hydrochloric or sulphuric acid solutions at low acidities probably, as the anions MoO ₄ ^2– and TcO ₄ ^– , respectively. Te(IV) has been isolated from hydrochloric acid solutions of normalities 6 in the form of the anionic chloro complex TeCl ₆ ^2– . Optimum conditions for elution and separation of Mo(VI), Tc(VII), Te(IV) and U(VI) were recommended.     

Adsorptivity of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone for selective separation of U(VI) from nitric acid media

Adsorptivity of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), a candidate resin with selectivity to U(VI) in HNO₃ media, to various metal ions was examined. It was found that PVPP has a strong adsorptivity to U(VI) in wide concentration range of HNO₃. The Scatchard plot analysis revealed that the adsorption of U(VI) by PVPP occurs at plural binding sites. The infrared spectroscopic analysis suggested that the strong binding site is due to the coordination of the carbonyl oxygen atom and the nitrogen atom in the pyrrolidone ring to UO₂ ²⁺. It was also found that fission product ions except Re(VII) as the simulant of Tc(VII) and Pd(II) are not adsorbed onto PVPP. The adsorptivities to Tc(VII) and Pd(II) species are weak, indicating that U(VI) can be separated from other metal ions by PVPP.     

Electrolytic reduction of Tc(VII) in nitric acid solution using glassy carbon electrode

Electroreduction of Tc(VII) was studied in nitric acid solution using glassy carbon electrode. The electroreduction was conducted at a constant potential –300 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) with a potentiostat. It was found that the difference of the Tc concentration in the solutions before and after the electrolysis was negligibly small. This means that there were almost no TcO₂ or Tc deposited on the carbon fiber electrode during the electroreduction. Absorption spectra and distribution coefficients obtained by ion-exchange analysis indicated that Tc(VII) was reduced to Tc(IV).This work was financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) under the framework of The Development of Innovative Nuclear Technologies.     

Ionic liquid phase organic synthesis (IoLiPOS) methodology applied to the preparation of new 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones bearing bioisostere group in N-3 position

The ionic liquid phase organic synthesis (IoLiPOS) methodology has been used for the preparation of new 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones (DHPMs) bearing bioisostere group in N-3 position. For the 3,4-DHPMs substituted with various thiazole rings, the strategy involved a three-component Biginelli condensation in the second step with good yields (93-96%) from ILP bound acetoacetate, aromatic aldehyde (93-97% yield), and N-methyl urea followed by N-3 alkylation with chloroacetonitrile on the ILP bound 3,4-DHPM. Quantitative thionation of the nitrile group grafted on the ILP bound 3,4-DHPM was realized in MeOH with a 40-48% solution of ammonium sulfide and subsequent addition of α-bromoketone produced the thiazole ring appended on the 3,4-DHPM core. After cleavage by transesterification, the target compounds were obtained in good overall yields (47-50%). The efficiency of the IoLiPOS methodology was also demonstrated by the preparation of new 3,4-DHPMs with a tetrazole ring in N-3 position in 5 steps (53-61% overall yield) via the ILP bound 3-cyanomethyl 3,4-DHPM as key intermediate.     

Synthesis and reactions of 3-carbethoxy and 3-aroyl-3,4-dihydro-1h-2,3-benzoxazin-1-ones

A series of 3-substituted 3,4-dihydro-1H-2,3-benzoxazin-1-ones (IV) (Scheme I) was prepared by reaction of 2-bromomethylbenzoyl chlorides (II) with N-hydroxyethylcarbamate (III) or with benzohydroxamic acids. Acid hydrolysis of 3-carbethoxy (IVa) and 3-benzoyl derivatives (IVb) afforded a mixture of 2-(hydroxyaminomethyl)benzoic acid (V) and 2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxy-1H-1-isoindolinone (VII). Compound IVa reacted with ethanol, amines or hydrazine to yield the ethyl ester X, amides XIV (Scheme II) and the hydrazide XII of 2-(N-carbethoxy-N-hydroxy-aminomethyl)benzoic acid. Diazotization of the hydrazide XII afforded the unstable azide XIII which did not undergo the Curtius reaction but gave the benzoxazinone IVa by loss of hydrazoic acid.     

Structural study on 2,2'-(methylimino)bis(N,N-dioctylacetamide) complex with Re(VII)O4- and Tc(VII)O4- by 1H NMR, EXAFS, and IR spectroscopy

The structures of the complex of 2,2'-(methylimino)bis(N,N-dioctylacetamide) (MIDOA) with M(VII)O(4)(-) (M = Re and Tc), which were prepared by liquid-liquid solvent extraction, were investigated by using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The (1)H NMR spectra of the complex of MIDOA with Re(VII)O(4)(-) prepared in the organic solution suggest the transfer of a proton from aqueous to organic solution and the formation of the H(+)MIDOA ion. The EXAFS spectra of the complexes of H(+)MIDOA with Re(VII)O(4)(-) and Tc(VII)O(4)(-) show only the M-O coordination of the aquo complexes, suggesting that the chemical state of M(VII)O(4)(-) was unchanged during the extraction process. The results from (1)H NMR and EXAFS, therefore, provide evidence of M(VII)O(4)(-)···H(+)MIDOA complex formation in the organic solution. The IR spectra of Re(VII)O(4)(-)···H(+)MIDOA and Tc(VII)O(4)(-)···H(+)MIDOA were analyzed based on the structures and the IR spectra that were calculated at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level. Comparison of the observed and calculated IR spectra demonstrates that an intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed in H(+)MIDOA, and the M(VII)O(4)(-) ion interacts with H(+)MIDOA through multiple C-H(n)···O hydrogen bonds.     

Nonpolymeric hydrogelator derived from N-(4-pyridyl)isonicotinamide

A series of pyridyl amides derived from isonicotinic acid, nicotinic acid, and benzoic acid have been synthesized. Only N-(4-pyridyl)isonicotinamide 1 is found to be an efficient hydrogelator with a minimum gelator concentration of 0.37 wt %. A wide range of concentrations (0.37-20 wt %) could be used to form hydrogels. The other amides, namely, N-(3-pyridyl)isonicotinamide 2, N-(2-pyridyl)isonicotinamide 3, N-(phenyl)isonicotinamide 4, N-(4-pyridyl)nicotinamide 5, N-(3-pyridyl)nicotinamide 6, and N-(4-pyridyl)benzamide 7, did not show any gelation properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, variable temperature 1H NMR, single-crystal diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and scanning electron microscopy have been used to characterize the gel. Single-crystal diffraction and XRPD studies indicate that the morph responsible for gel formation is different from that in its bulk solid and xerogel.     

Intermolecular (1)H-(1)H Two-Dimensional Nuclear Overhauser Enhancements in the Characterization of a Rationally Designed Chiral Recognition System

Chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for liquid chromatography derived from N-(acyl)proline-3,5-dimethylanilides separate the enantiomers of N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-alpha-amino esters and amides with high levels of selectivity. These CSPs have been used to assemble a large body of chromatographic data which indirectly supports the validity of the mechanistic rationale originally used in the design of these CSPs. We herein report (1)H and (13)C chemical shift data obtained when the (S)-enantiomer of chiral solvating agent (CSA) 3, a soluble analogue of the selector used in CSP (S)-1, acts on each of the enantiomers of the dimethylamide of N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine, 2. The changes in chemical shift in the mixture of (S)-2 and (S)-3 support the existence of those interactions thought to be essential to chiral recognition in this system. In addition, significant intermolecular NOESY enhancements are observed in this mixture. These NOE data are consistent with the structure expected for the more stable diastereomeric adsorbate formed between (S)-2 and the (S)-proline-derived CSP 1. No intermolecular NOEs are observed for corresponding mixtures of the chiral solvating agent (S)-3 and (R)-2, the enantiomer least retained on (S)-CSP 1.     

Selective Separation of Re(VII) and Tc(VII) by Xerogel Microcapsules Enclosing TOA Extractant

Special attention has been given to the separation and recovery of VII-group elements, Tc and Re, in relation to the partitioning of high-level liquid waste (HLLW) generated from the nuclear fuel reprocessing process. In this study, a tertiary amine (tri-n-octylamine, TOA), which is effective for the extraction of oxoanions, was encapsulated in Ca and H-types of alginate xerogel polymers (CaALG, HALG). The uptake behaviors of TcO4^-and ReO4⁻ (substitute of Tc) in the presence of HNO3 were examined by batch method using TOA-xerogel microcapsules (TOA-CaALG, TOA-HALG). The uptake of TcO4- in the presence of 0.1 M HNO3 was readily attained within 5 h, and a relatively large uptake(%) above 90% was obtained. The uptake(%) of Re(VII) for TOA-CaALG in the presence of 0.01∼0.1 M HNO3 was estimated to be about 90%, while gradually decreasing with HNO3 concentration, indicating that the extraction of HNO3 with TOA became dominant in this process: R3NH⁺NO3 (o) + ReO4 (aq) ↔ R3NH⁺ReO4 (o) + NO3 (aq). The order of the uptake(%) for different oxoanions in the presence of 0.01∼5 M HNO3 was Re(VII) > Zr(IV)> Se(VI) > Mo(VI) > Te(VI). The elution study of Tc(VII) revealed 95% and 99% of recovery with 5 M and 7 M HNO3, respectively. The chromatographic separation of Re(VII) from simulated HLLW (28 components of waste solution, SW-11E, JAEA) as well as from mixed solution was accomplished by the stepwise elution techniques using a column packed with TOA-MCs. The Re(VII) ions were effectively eluted with 5 M HNO3, and a relatively large recovery(%) of 98.60% was obtained. Other elements were eluted with H2O and 2 M HNO3. Thus the TOA-xerogel microcapsules are effective for the selective separation of Tc(VII) from HLLW.     

Rapid separation of VI/VII technetium oxidation states by solvent extraction with iodonitrotetrazolium chloride

Technetium⁹⁹ poses a difficult problem at many nuclear waste disposal sites, as there have been multiple incidents of its release to the environment due to large quantities of fission products disposed in storage tanks. Tc is mostly present under two oxidation states, Tc(VII) and Tc(IV) and the separation of Tc(IV) from Tc(VII) is often crucial for laboratory-scale work performed for the study of Tc. This work offers a method for the rapid separation of Tc(IV) from Tc(VII), using a solvent extraction system containing iodonitrotetrazolium chloride and chloroform.     

Synthesis of N-Substituted 3-Aminothiazolidin-4-ones Containing Hetaryl Fragments

Condensation of the N-(3,5-dichloropyridyl-2)- and N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)hydrazones of carbonyl compounds with thioglycolic acid gave the 3-(3,5-dichloropyridyl-2)amino- and 3-[N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)amino]-2-R¹-2-R²-thiazolidin-4-ones. Reaction of 1-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)-4-R-thiosemicarbazides with chloroacetic acid in the presence of sodium acetate gave the 2-[N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)hydrazono]-3-R-thiazolidin-4-ones. It was found that the N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)hydrazones, both in the solid state and in solution, exist in the form of an equilibrium mixture of the EZ'- and EE'-isomers as a result of hindered rotation around the amide N-CO bond.     

Reaction of indoles with aldehydes. Synthesis of dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indoles

Aromatic aldehydes react with amides of 1-methylindole-2-carboxylic acid under acid catalysis conditions to give 1-aryl-4-methyldihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indol-3-ones. The intermediate 1-methyl-2-CONHR-3(-X-benzyl)indoles, which are subsequently converted to the indicated cyclic compounds, were isolated. o-Acetyl derivatives were obtained by the action of acetic anhydride on derivatives of unsubstituted amides. Dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b] indol-3-ones were reduced by LiAlH₄ to the corresponding dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b] indoles. A mechanism for the formation of dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b] indoles is proposed.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1516–1523, November, 1976.