Cation exchange extraction of neptunium(V) and protactinium(V) from molten nitrate salt

Cu-di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate was used as the cation exchange extractant from molten nitrate salt. IR absorption spectra of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and Cu-di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate were compared and it was proved that the acidic form of the extractant is not Cu-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphate. Using LiNO₃−NH₄NO₃ eutectic melt, it was shown that the back-extraction of Cu²⁺ is a cation exchange reaction. Np(V) and Pa(V) were extracted by Cu-di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate from LiNO₃−NaNO₃−KNO₃ eutectic melt. The distribution ratio of Np(V) was greater than that of Pa(V) on the contrary of their distribution ratios in the aqueous extraction system. A possible cation exchange extraction reaction was proposed for the extraction of Np(V).     

Thermal stability and degradation kinetic study of white and colored cotton fibers by thermogravimetric analysis

Complexation of neptunium(V) with fluoride in aqueous solutions at elevated temperatures was studied by spectrophotometry and microcalorimetry. Two successive complexes, NpO₂F(aq) and NpO₂F₂⁻, were identified by spectrophotometry in the temperature range of 10–70°C. Thermodynamic parameters, including the equilibrium constants and enthalpy of complexation between Np(V) and fluoride at 10–70°C were determined. Results show that the complexation of Np(V) with fluoride is endothermic and that the complexation is enhanced by the increase in temperature — a two-fold increase in the stability constants of NpO₂F(aq) and more than five-fold increase in the stability constants of NpO₂F₂⁻ as the temperature is increased from 10 to 70°C.     

Stability constants of Np(V) complexes with fluoride and sulfate at variable temperatures

Summary A solvent extraction method was used to determine the stability constants of Np(V) complexes with fluoride and sulfate in 1.0M NaClO₄ from 25 to 60 °C. The distribution ratio of Np(V) between the organic and aqueous phases was found to decrease as the concentrations of fluoride and sulfate were increased. Stability constants of the 1 : 1 Np(V)-fluoride complexes and the 1 : 1 Np(V)-sulfate and 1 : 2 Np(V)-sulfate complexes, dominant in the aqueous phase under the experimental conditions, were calculated from the effect of [F^-] and [SO₄^2-] on the distribution ratio. The enthalpy and entropy of complexation were calculated from the stability constants at different temperatures by using the Van't Hoff equation.     

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.     

Solubility of neptunium oxide in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) groundwater

The solubilities of NpO₂(s) in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granitic groundwater with low ionic strength were measured experimentally and calculated by a geochemical code. Then these results were compared with each other as well as with foreign results. The concentrations of neptunium were measured as 6·10⁻⁸−2·10⁻⁸ mol/L at a pH = 9.5–11.1 and Eh = −0.2 V, and less than 5·10⁻⁹ mol/L at a pH = 11.8–13.0 and Eh = −0.3–0.44 V. The dominant aqueous species were presumed as Np(OH)_x(CO₃)_y ^4−x−2y complexes and Np(OH)₄(aq) at pH = 9.5–13 under the Eh<−0.2 V reducing condition.     

Redox Behavior of Neptunium(V) in Tributyl Phosphate and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Dihexyl Octanamide Extractants Dissolved in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Dodecane

Spectrophotometric investigations have been carried out on the disproportionation of Np(V) to form Np(IV) and Np(VI) in 1.1 mol⋅L⁻¹ solutions of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and in N,N-dihexyl octanamide (DHOA) in n-dodecane medium. The Np(V) was found to coordinate with Np(IV) in 1.1 mol⋅L⁻¹ TBP solution in n-dodecane to form a mixed valence “cation–cation” complex by bonding through an axial oxo group on Np(V). By contrast, this interaction was less prominent in the case of 1.1 mol⋅L⁻¹ DHOA solutions. The effect of 1-octanol, added as phase modifier, on the disproportionation behavior of Np(V) was also investigated. An attempt was made to calculate the disproportionation/reduction rate constants for Np(V) under the conditions of these studies. Absorbance measurements on the Np stripped from organic phases revealed the occurrence of Np(V) in the aqueous phase.     

Spectrophotometric and Calorimetric Studies of Np(V) Complexation with Acetate at Various Temperatures from <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>=283 to 343 K

Spectrophotometric titrations were performed to identify the Np(V)/acetate complex and determine the equilibrium constants at various temperatures (T=283 to 343 K) and at the ionic strength 1.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹. The enthalpies of complexation at the corresponding temperatures were determined by microcalorimetric titrations. Results show that the complexation of Np(V) with acetate is weak but strengthens as the temperature increases. The complexation reaction is endothermic and entropy driven. The enhancement of complexation at higher temperatures is primarily due to the increasingly larger entropy gain when the solvent molecules are released from the highly-ordered solvation spheres of NpO₂⁺\mathrm{NpO}_{2}^{+} and acetate to the bulk solvent where the degree of disorder is higher at higher temperatures.     

A study on the adsorption-exchange of UO2 2+,137Cs,169Yb and HPO4 2− on modified peat

The adsorption-exchange equilibrium time and the adsorption isotherms of UO₂ ²⁺,¹³⁷Cs,¹⁶⁹Yb and HPO₄ ²⁻ on modified peat have been investigated by batch experiments. The effect of pH on the adsorption-exchange percentage (E) and the distribution coefficients (K _d) was also examined. It was found that the adsorption-exchange of UO₂ ²⁺ and¹⁶⁹Yb on the modified peat was described well by Freundlich isotherm, whereas the adsorption-exchange of¹³⁷Cs and HPO₄ ²⁻ on modified peat corresponded to a Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacities of the modified peat for¹³⁷Cs and HPO₄ ²⁻ ions were 4.4 and 4.1 μg/g respectively. The optimum pH for the adsorption-exchange of UO₂ ²⁺,¹³⁷Cs,¹⁶⁹Yb and HPO₄ ²⁻ on the modified peat was 7.0 at 25°C.     

Precise Conductance Measurements on Dilute Aqueous Solutions of Sodium and Potassium Hydrogenphosphate and Dihydrogenphosphate

Precise conductance measurements are reported on dilute aqueous solutions of the sodium and potassium salts of orthophosphoric acid at 25 ^∘C. Conductance measurements on solutions of electrolytes such as these phosphate salts that exist in solution as complicated mixtures of ions have previously proved difficult to interpret. To overcome this, a mathematical method has been developed to calculate the concentrations of all the species in the aqueous system M₃PO₄/M₂HPO₄/M₂HPO₄/H₃PO₄ (M = Na or K) over a continuous range of stoichiometries. The Lee–Wheaton conductance equation has been used to interpret the conductance of these multicomponent solutions in terms of the limiting ionic conductances and concentrations of all the ions in the solution. The limiting molar conductances of the ions H₂PO₄ ⁻ and HPO₄ ²⁻ and the ion-pair formation constants of these ions with sodium and potassium ions were determine This work has enabled the accurate determination of solution parameters for the important hydrogenphosphate ions in water and provides an excellent example of the use of an advanced conductance theory in the analysis of the conductance of multicomponent electrolyte systems.     

Estimation of the specific content and nature of sorption sites of iron(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">III</Emphasis>) and zirconium(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">IV</Emphasis>) oxyhydroxides

The sorption of anions H₂PO₄ ⁻, HPO₄ ²⁻, PO₄ ³⁻, [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻, and [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ from aqueous solutions on the surface of Fe^III and Zr^IV oxyhydroxide hydrogels freshly precipitated at pH 4–13 was studied. The region of sorbate concentrations was from 0.00025 to 0.06 mol L⁻¹. The plots of the anion uptakes vs. their equilibrium concentrations are represented by isotherms of the first type, which are well described by the Langmuir equation if the quantity of the amount adsorbed is expressed as mol-site g⁻¹. The maximum uptakes and constants of the Langmuir equation were calculated. The phosphate anions occupy the same number of sorption sites on the sorbents precipitated at different pH. The average specific content of sorption sites for the ferro- and zirconogels in the metastability period is independent of the pH of their precipitation, being 3.1·10⁻³ and 3.2·10⁻³ mol-site g⁻¹, respectively. The [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anions are sorbed only on the positively charged sites of the hydrogels and occupy not more than 2·10 mol-site g⁻¹ in the studied interval of pH of precipitation. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1736—1741, August, 2005.     

Study of the Ternary Complex Formation Between Vanadium(III), Dipicolinic Acid and Small Blood Serum Bioligands

Ternary complex formation reactions were studied between vanadium(III), dipicolinic acid and small molecular weight blood serum components: lactic, oxalic, citric and ortophosphoric acids. The electromotive force measurement permitted us to determine the chemical speciation of the complexes formed. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–lactic acid system the complexes detected were: V(dipic)(lac), V(dipic)(lac)(OH)⁻ and V(dipic)(lac)(OH)₂^2-(\mathrm{OH})_{2}^{2-}. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–oxalic acid system the observed complexes were: V(dipic)(ox)⁻, V(dipic)(ox)(Hox)²⁻ and V(dipic)(ox)₂^3-(\mathrm{ox})_{2}^{3-}. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–citric acid system the complexes V(dipic)(Hcit)⁻, V(dipic)(cit)²⁻, V(dipic)(cit)(OH)³⁻, V(dipic)(cit)(OH)₂^4-(\mathrm{OH})_{2}^{4-} and V(dipic)(cit)(OH)₃^5-(\mathrm{OH})_{3}^{5-} were detected. Finally in the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–phosphoric acid system the complexes V(dipic)(H₂PO₄) and V(dipic)(HPO₄)⁻ were observed. The UV-vis spectra allowed us to perform a qualitative characterization of the complexes formed in aqueous solution.     

Extraction of actinides by quaternary amines from hydrochloric acid medium

The extraction of Np(IV), Pu(IV) and U(VI) from aqueous hydrochloric acid into quaternary amines has been studied. The dependence of the distribution coefficient on amine concentration suggests that the actinide ions extracted are NpCl ₆ ²⁻ PuCl ₆ ²⁻ and UO₂Cl ₄ ²⁻ . This is further supported by the absorption spectra of the amine extracts of these actinide ions. Based on the extraction data obtained, a simple method for the separation of typical metal ions such as Cs, lanthanides and Zr from U(VI) and Pu(IV) is suggested.     

The Hydrolysis of Hydroxamic Acid Complexants in the Presence of Non-Oxidizing Metal Ions 2: Neptunium (IV) Ions

Hydroxamic acids are salt free, organic compounds with affinities for cations such as Fe³⁺, Np⁴⁺ and Pu⁴⁺, and have been identified as suitable reagents for the control of Pu and Np in advanced nuclear fuel reprocessing. The results of a UV-visible, near-IR spectrophotometric study of the 1:1 and 2:1 complexes formed between formo- and aceto-hydroxamic acids (FHA, AHA) and Np(IV) ions are interpreted using speciation diagrams for the identification of the species present at different pH and ligand to metal ratios. A kinetic model that describes the instability of the complex due to hydrolysis of the hydroxamate moiety, previously developed for the Fe(III)-AHA complexes (Andrieux et al. in J. Solution Chem. 36:1201–1217, [2007]), is tested here against experimental Np(IV)-FHA data. Consequently, the complexation constant for formation of the 1:1 Np(IV)-FHA complex in nitric acid is estimated at K ₁=2715 and indications are that complexation protects the ligand against hydrolysis at 0.1>pH>−0.1.     

Speciation of the Ternary Complexes of Vanadium(III)–Dipicolinic Acid and the Amino Acids Cysteine,Histidine, Aspartic and Glutamic Acids in 3.0 mol⋅dm<Superscript>−3</Superscript> KCl at 25 °C

In this work we present results for the speciation of the ternary complexes formed in the aqueous vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid and the amino acids cysteine (H₂cys), histidine (Hhis), aspartic acid (H₂asp) and glutamic acid (H₂glu) systems (25 °C; 3.0 mol⋅dm⁻³ KCl as ionic medium), determined by means of potentiometric measurements. The potentiometric data were analyzed with the least-squares program LETAGROP, taking into account the hydrolysis of vanadium(III), the acid-base reactions of the ligands, and the binary complexes formed. Under the experimental conditions (vanadium(III) concentration = 2–3 mmol⋅dm⁻³ and vanadium(III): dipicolinic acid: amino acid molar ratio 1:1:1, 1:1:2 and 1:2:1), the following species [V(dipic)(H₂asp)]⁺, [V(dipic)(Hasp)], [V(dipic)(asp)]⁻, [V(dipic)(asp)(OH)]²⁻, and [V(dipic)(asp)(OH)₂]³⁻ were found in the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–aspartic acid system. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–glutamic acid system [V(Hdipic)(H₂glu)]²⁺, [V(dipic)(H₂glu)]⁺, [V(dipic)(Hglu)], [V(dipic)(Hglu)(OH)]⁻, and [V(dipic)(Hglu)(OH)₂]²⁻ were observed. In the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–cysteine system the complexes [V(dipic)(H₂cys)]⁺, [V(dipic)(Hcys)], [V(dipic)(cys)]⁻, and [V(dipic)(cys)(OH)]²⁻ were present. And finally, in the vanadium(III)–dipicolinic acid–histidine system the complexes [V(Hdipic)(Hhis)]²⁺, [V(dipic) (Hhis)]⁺[\mathrm{V}(\mathrm{dipic}) (\mathrm{Hhis})]^{+}, [V(dipic)(his)], [V(dipic)(his)(OH)]⁻, and [V(dipic)(his)(OH)₂]²⁻ were observed. The stability constants of these complexes were determined. The species distribution diagrams as a function of pH are briefly discussed.     

Determination of americium-243 through its daughter product neptunium-239

The extraction of Np(IV), Zr, Nb, Cs, Ce(III) and Am(III) from nitric acid solutions containing oxalate and phosphate ions by solutions of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoylpyrazolon-5 (PMBP) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) in benzene has been investigated. A solution 0.1M in respect to PMBP and 0.25M in respect to TBP was found to extract 99% of neptunium from aqueous solutions 1M in respect to H₃PO₄ and 0.5M in respect to HNO₃. Under these conditions, the extraction of the other investigated elements does not exceed 0.1%. Based on this finding, a procedure was developed to determine²⁴³Am through its daughter product²³⁹Np in solutions containing large quantities of curium and its fission products. The sensitivity of the procedure is 1·10⁻⁷ mg of²⁴³Am in the sample. The²⁴³Am content is obtained by calculation from measurements of the γ-activity of the extracted²³⁹Np. The purification ratio of²³⁹Np is∼10⁵ from Zr, Nb and Ru, ∼10⁸ from Ce and Cm and >10¹² from Cs.     

Potentiometric Study of Aluminium-Fluoride Complexation Equilibria and Definition of the Thermodynamic Model

Complexation constants of the Al³⁺/F⁻ system were determined at different ionic strengths in a NaClO₄ (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mol⋅dm⁻³) ionic medium by means of a potentiometry using two electrode systems: an ion fluoride selective electrode as well as a glass electrode. All the experimentation was performed at 25 °C. The main species in the complexation equilibria were determined as AlF²⁺, AlF₂⁺, AlF₃⁰, AlF₄⁻, AlF₅²⁻ and AlF₆³⁻. The differences found in the complexation constants for the ionic strength considered were explained by the different behavior of the interaction parameters for the AlF _n ³⁻ⁿ species. These parameters were calculated using the Modified Bromley’s Methodology (MBM). The corresponding thermodynamic quantities were also determined. From all the results obtained, it can be concluded that pH, fluoride concentration and ionic strength influenced the distribution of the fluoride-aluminium complexes.     

A theoretical investigation on structures of tripodal thiourea derivatives and their anion recognition

The structural geometries of three tripodal thiourea receptors, i.e. 1,3,5-triethyl-2,4,6-tris[(N′-methylthioureido)methyl]benzene (1), tris[N′-methyl-N-(2-aminoethyl)thiourea]methane (2), tris[N′-methyl-N-(2-aminoethyl)thiourea]amine (3), and their complexes with F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, NO₃ ⁻, CO₃ ²⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, HSO₄ ⁻, PO₄ ³⁻, HPO₄ ²⁻ and H₂PO₄ ⁻ were obtained using the density functional theory calculations. Electronic and thermodynamic properties of anion binding complexes of the receptors 1, 2 and 3 were investigated. Recognition abilities of all the receptors in terms of selectivity coefficients are reported. Intermolecular interactions in all the studied complexes occurring via multi-point hydrogen bonding were found. The receptors 1, 2 and 3 were found to be excellent selectivity for phosphate ion and their binding free energy for the phosphate ion are −292.57, −291.77 and −295.01 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Etude des systemes CaHPO4−MHPO4−H2O (M=Sr,Ba) A 50°C

The systems CaHPO₄−MHPO₄−H₂O (M=Sr, Ba) were studied at 50°C. ForM=Sr, the series of single phases, Ca_1−xSr_xHPO₄ for 0.95<X<0.75 and Ca_xSr_1−xHPO₄ for 0.4<X<1 have been prepared. These solid solution were caracterized by their infrared spectra and their crystallographic unit cell parameters. ForM=Ba a new phase Ca₂Ba(HPO₄)₃ has been determined. It was characterized by DRX, IR, ATD and chemical analyses.

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Zusammenfassung Bei 50°C wurde das System CaHPO₄−MHPO₄−H₂O (mitM=Sr, Ba) untersucht. FürM=Sr wurden Serien von Einzelphasen erhalten: Ca_1−xSr_xHPO₄ für 0.95<X< 0.75 und Ca_xSr_1−xHPO₄ für 0.4<X<1. Diese Mischkristalle wurden anhand ihrer Infrarotspektren und ihrer kristallographischen Elementarzellenparameter charakterisiert. FürM=Ba wurde die neue Phase Ca₂Ba(HPO₄)₃ ermittelt. Sie wurde mittels DRX, IR, ATD und chemischer Analyse charakterisiert.

     

Kinetics of hydrated electron reactions with phosphate anions: a laser photolysis study

The decay kinetics of hydrated electron (e_aq ⁻) formed upon photolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetrasulfonate at λ = 337 nm in the presence of phosphate anions (up to 2 mol L⁻¹) was studied by nanosecond laser-pulse photolysis in a wide range of pH (3.5–10) and ionic strength (I, up to 2 mol L⁻¹) values. At high pH values, where the HPO₄ ²⁻ ions dominate, the e_aq ⁻ decay kinetics depends only slightly on phosphate concentration (rate constant for the reaction is at most 2·10⁵ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹). The H₂PO₄ ⁻ ions react with e_aq ⁻ at a rate constant of 2.8·10⁶ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (I = 0), which increases linearly with the parameter in accordance with the Debye-Hückel theory. The rate constant for quenching of e_aq ⁻ by H₃PO₄ at pH ≤ 4 decreases linearly with the parameter due to the secondary salt effect and equals 1.6·10⁹ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at I = 0. The logarithm of the rate constant for quenching of e_aq ⁻ by phosphates is linearly related to the number of the O-H bonds in the phosphate molecule. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1277–1280, July, 2007.     

Complexation and Precipitation of Arsenate and Iron Species in Sodium Perchlorate Solutions at 25∘C

The complexation of As(V) in aqueous solutions in the presence of iron(III) was investigated spectrophotometrically with both variable and constant ionic strengths. The determined thermodynamic and stoichiometric formation constants of the FeHAsO₄⁺ species are log₁₀^∘β = 9.21± 0.01 and log₁₀^Iβ (1.0mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄) = 7.78 ± 0.01, respectively. The numerical treatment of the obtained spectral data was performed with the SPECA program. The analysis required the consideration of the hydrolysis of Fe(III) and the protonation of As(V) in the pH range studied. No significant hydrolysis was observed because of the low pH values (pH < 2.5) involved. The stabilities of the solid Fe(III) arsenates was established by solubility experiments. All of the solubility experiments were performed in aqueous NaClO₄ solutions at constant ionic strength (1.0mol⋅dm⁻³) and at 25^∘C. The experimental data were consistent with FeAsO₄⋅2H₂O being the solid phase (log₁₀ ^∘ K_so = −24.30± 0.08). The corresponding thermodynamic constants were computed by means of the Modified Bromley's Methodology (MBM) that describes the variation of the activity coefficients of all of the ions involved in the complexation and precipitation equilibria with the medium and ionic strength. Finally, the solid phase obtained in this work was also characterized by FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies, and the hydration of the solid iron arsenate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction data.