Sorption of radioactive strontium on a silica-titania mixed hydrous oxide gel

A silica-titania (Si–Ti) mixed hydroxide gel with Ti to Si mole ratio of 11 was prepared. Studies on the sorption of radiostrontium from alkaline solutions having various concentrations of sodium were carried out with Si–Ti. The distribution coefficient (K _d) of strontium decreased with increasing concentrations of sodium from 0.1 to 4.0 mol·dm^–3. The plot of logK _d versus log [Na⁺] gave a slope of –0.55 as against the theoretical value of –2.0. This suggests that some other paths in addition to the simple stoichiometric ion exchange is also existing for sorption. From pH titrations the pH_pzc of Si–Ti was found to be 4.22 coinciding nearly with the pH sorption edge. An attempt was made to correlate the sorption results with the surface characteristics of the sorbent. It was found that sorption is favored when the surface of the sorbent transforms into an anionic form. Sharp increase in the sorption of strontium was observed when the equilibrium pH was between 7 and 10. This behavior could be attributed to the abrupt increase in net negative charge on the surface of the sorbent.     

Sorption of hafnium on hydrous titanium oxide using radiotracer technique

The sorption of hafnium on hydrous titanium oxide (TiO₂·1.94 H₂O) has been studied in detail. Maximum sorption of hafnium can be achieved from a pH 7 buffer solution containing boric acid and sodium hydroxide using 50 mg of the oxide after 30 minutes shaking. The value ofk _d, the rate constant of intraparticle transport for hafnium sorption, from 0.01M hydrochloric and perchloric acid and pH 7 buffer solutions has been found to be 17 mmole·g^–1·min^–2. The kinetics of hafnium sorption follows Lagergren equation in 0.01M HCl solution only. The values of the overall rate constantK=6.33·10^–2 min^–1 and of the rate constant for sorptionk ₁=6.32·10^–2 min^–1 and desorptionk ₂=2.28·10^–5 min^–1 have been evaluated using linear regression analysis. The value of correlation factor() is 0.9824. The influence of hafnium concentration on its sorption has been examined from 4.55·10^–5 to 9.01·10^–4 M from pH 7 buffer solution. The sorption data followed only the Langmuir sorption isotherm. The saturation capacity of 9.52 mmole·g^–1 and of a constant related to sorption energy have been estimated to be 2917 dm³·mole^–1. Among all the additional anions and cations tested only citrate ions reduce the sorption significantly. Under optimal experimental conditions selected for hafnium sorption, As(III), Sn(V), Co(II), Se(IV) and Eu(III) have shown higher sorption whereas Mn(II), Ag(I) and Sc(III) are sorbed to a lesser extent. It can be concluded that a titanium oxide bed can be used for the preconcentration and removal of hafnium and other metal ions showing higher sorption from their very dilute solutions. The oxide can also be employed for the decontamination of radioactive liquid waste and for pollution abatement studies.     

Adsorption studies of cesium on potassium copper nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) from aqueous solutions

Adsorption of cesium from aqueous solutions on potassium copper nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) (KCNF) has been investigated in batch experiments and optimized as a function of concentration of acids, salts and adsorbate using a radiotracer technique. The results are presented in terms of distribution coefficient, K_d (ml·g^–1). The uptake of cesium obeys a Freundlich adsorption isotherm over the concentration range of 3.7 to 37 mmol·l^–1 with b values of 0.77, 0.68 and 0.56 at temperatures of 293, 313, 333 K, respectively. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm is followed in the concentration range of 15 to 75 mmol·l^–1 in the same temperature range. The values of limiting adsorption concentration (C_m) have been found to be 2.58, 2.44 and 2.32 mmol·g^–1. The heat of adsorption was calculated as 26.43 kJ·mol^–1. The influence of a number of anions and cations on cesium retention has also been studied. Column experiments have been performed and breakthrough have been obtained under different operating conditions. The low cesium capacity of 1.1 mmol·g^–1 has been obtained under dynamic conditions as compared to batch experiments. Desorption of cesium from the column has been achieved (45.4%) by nitric acid solution of 8M concentration at a flow rate of 0.5 ml·min^–1.     

Modeling of iron adsorption on HTTA-loaded polyurethane foam using Freundlich,Langmuir and D-R isotherm expressions

The sorption of Fe(III) at low pH range from 1 to 4.5 on open cell polyether type HTTA-loaded polyurethane foam has been carried out using batch technique. The optimum shaking time for 2.5· 10^–4M solution of Fe(III) was found to be 30 minutes. The concept of macropore and micropore nature of polyurethane foam sorbent offers unique advantages of adsorption. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms are followed at low concentration range from 1·10^–4 to 3·10^–4M solution of Fe(III). The Freundlich constant (1/n=0.46±0.013 andK=9.16±1.39 mg·g^–1) and Langmuir isotherm constants(M=21.78 mg·g^–1 andb=88.41±9.731·g^–1) were established. The sorption mean free energyE=12.22±0.09 kJ·mol^–1 and loading capacityC _m =145.21±6.1 mg·g^–1 were evaluated using Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm, which suggested that the adsorption mechanism was chemisorption.     

A Magnetic Sorbent for Radiocesium and Radiostrontium Removal from Clay and Soil Suspensions

A magnetic sorbent based on a mixture of magnetic iron and nickel oxides, and specific surface activation by ferrocyanide solution for enhancement of cesium adsorption is described. After equilibration of clay or soil suspension with the magnetic sorbent, the latter can be removed with exchangeable radiocesium and radiostrontium by means of magnetic separation. The distribution coefficients of the order 2·10³ l/kg for cesium and 5·10³ l/kg for strontium were determined. The efficiency of the sorbent was investigated in a 1% montmorillonite or soil suspension. At a soil:sorbent ratio 1:1–1:6 in the suspension, the fraction of exchangeable radiocesium in soil at a 2 hours contact was diminished from 56–59% to 48–12%, the decontamination factor of both the mobile cesium and strontium is about 3. The multistage process and sorbent recycling need further investigation.     

Precipitation separation of strontium and calcium from acidic solutions using crown ether and tungstosilicic acid

Strontium forms a compound of composition (SrL)₂A·nH₂O with low solubility (5.0·10^–6 mol Sr·dm^–3) in the presence of 18-crown-6 (L) and tungstosilicic acid (H₄A) in acid media, as has been found by radiometric precipitation titration. Formation of the compound with limited solubility was used for separation of strontium and calcium from 1 mol·dm^–3 HCl. It is possible to separate strontium in the range from trace to 6 mmol·dm^–3 in the presence of calcium with its concentration up to 0.2 mol ·dm^–3 and the recovery determined was 95% of Sr and 5% Ca or 90% of Sr and 4% Ca, respectively. The ratio of Sr/Ca depends on the stability constants ratio of metal-L (⊃_SR/⊃_ca) in the case of gradual addition of L. Potassium up to the concentration of 0.05 mol·dm^–3 does not influence recovery of strontium.     

Katalytische Reaktionen in der Spurenanalyse und Untersuchung ihrer Mechanismen. VII

Zusammenfassung Für die Bestimmung von Vanadinspuren eignet sich die Bromat-Ascorbinsäure-Reaktion vom Landolt-Typ, für die das Gesehwindigkeitsgesetz in folgender Form Gültigkeit hat: –d[BrO₃ ^–]/d=[BrO₃ ^– K ₁([(₆H₈O₆+K _v[v]+K ₂ [Br^–][H⁺]²). Die Verfasser bestimmten auf Grund der Daten für die Reaktionszeit der Landolt-Reaktion den Wert vonK ₁ und die Aktivierungsenergie der Bromat-Ascorbinsäure-Reaktion.K ₁=2,5·10^–/Mol^–1 · min^–1 (25° C) bzw. 15,408 Kcal/Mol.

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Catalytic reactions in trace analysis and investigation of their mechanisms. VII

Summary The bromate-ascorbic acid reaction of the Landolt type is suited to the determination of traces of vanadium. The velocity law is valid in the following form: –d[BrO₃ ^–]/d=[BrO₃ ^– K ₁([(₆H₈O₆+K _v [v]+K ₂[Br^–][H ⁺]²). Using the data for the reaction time of the Landolt-reaction, the authors determined the value ofK ₁ and the activation energy of the bromate-ascorbic acid reaction.K ₁=2.5 · 10^–2/mol^–1 · min^–1 (25° C) or 15.408 kcal/mol.

     

Interaction of uranyl ions with snake venom proteins fromLachesis muta muta

The reaction product of uranyl nitrate with whole-protein Bushmaster snake venom in nitrate buffer at pH 3.5 has been studied. The maximum uptake of uranium was 291 mol U·g^–1 of venom. The infrared spectrum of the product showed an asymmetric O–U–O vibration at 921 cm^–1 typical of complex formation with the uranyl ion. Stability measurements with the UO ₂ ²⁺ -protein complex in neutral medium indicated moderate hydrolytic stability, with 14% dissociation after 16 hours at 0°C. Neutron irradiation and desorption studies with a²³⁵U-labelled complex showed that generated fission products such as lanthanides and barium were readily lixiviated at pH 7, whereas Ru and Zr were highly retained by the protein substrate.     

On the expansion of hole in main chain polymers determined by positron annihilation

The temperature dependence of positron annihilation characteristics, ₃ andI ₃, has been studied on sample of poly(butadiene), poly(isobutylene) and poly(chloroprene). The temperature range was between 15 and 470 K. The rate of expansion of holes or free-volume in all samples was deduced belowT _g as well aboveT _g as appr. 3·10^–3 K^–1 and 2·10^–2 K^–1, respectively. These values are very close to the rate of the mean squared displacement of scatterer<r ²>observed in neutron scattering experiments. A possibility to use an inverse value of free-volume,V _f ^–1 for study of viscoelastic state of polymers is demonstrated.     

Quantum-chemical calculations and interpretations of electronic spectra of phthalocyanines of transition metals and of their ionic forms

The INDO/S method with Zerner's parametrization has been used to calculate the energies and intensities of electronic transitions for a number of metallophthalocyanines of transition metals and their negatively charged ions: CoPC, FePC·L₂, MnPC·L₂, CoPC^–, FePC^–, MnPC^–·L₂, FePC^2–, FePC^–·L₂, and COPC^2– (PC is the macrocyclic phthalocyanines ligand, and L the molecules of axial ligands, in the present instance ammonia molecules). It is shown that within an isoelectronic series of compounds, having the same total number of electrons and the same disposition of pairs of d orbitals, the laws governing the changes in the electronic spectra, related to changes in the d- interactions, can be described theoretically by allowing for configuration interactions of doubly excited configurations in the basis. It is established that in the visible and near UV and IR regions of the spectrum the allowed electronic transitions in compounds of an isoelectronic series, corresponding to an uncharged state of the phthalocyanine ligand, consist of a superposition of the ^* configuration (2a_1u 6e_g) and two types of intramolecular CT configurations: (d 3b_1u) and the double excitation (2a_1u, d 6e_g, 6e_g). Data are obtained for the energy levels of the even electronic states which are responsible for the rapid radiationless deactivation of excited molecules of the phthalocyanines of transition metals.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 651–658, November–December, 1990.     

Cesium sorption on mylonite

As part of the laboratory support program for the field migration experiment at the Grimsel Test Site (GTS) in the Swiss Alps, the sorption behaviour of cesium on Grimsel mylonite was studied. Batch sorption experiments were carried out in N₂ atmosphere (<3 ppm O₂). The adsorption isotherms were reversible and non-linear for cesium concentrations of between 3.2·10^–8 and 5.0·10^–4M. Two different sites appear to be involved in sorption depending on whether Cs loading was high (10^–6–10^–3 meq/g) or low (10^–7–10^–6 meq/g). At low Cs loadings adsorption was considered to occur mainly at the crystal edges of mica particles. Selectivity coefficients for exchange between cesium and potassium were calculated for different Cs loadings. It was suggestd that by varying the potassium concentration of the solution and by making some assumptions, a K_d value for cesium at the migration site could be estimated. Data were fitted to both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. The empirical Freundlich parameters enabled a site distribution function to be calculated and a mean energy of sorption of about 12 kJ/mol was found using Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms approach.     

Sorption and desorption of technetium by humic substances under oxic and anoxic conditions

The distribution coefficients K_d for the sorption of^95mTc by peat as well as the corresponding rates of sorption and desorption were determined as a function of the concentration of the supporting electrolyte (CaCl₂), the amount of dissolved oxygen and the pH of the solution. The results show that the K_d-values of Tc (added as Tc(VII)-pertechnetate) increase, if the concentration of CaCl₂ or the amount of dissolved oxygen is decreased. The sorption was reversible with respect to the replacement of Tc by a CaCl₂ solution. The half-times for the rates of sorption and desorption depend on the concentration of CaCl₂ and dissolved oxygen and were in the range of 20–60 minutes and 500–900 minutes for the sorption and desorption processes, respectively.     

Polarographic determination of uranium(VI) after salting-out extraction as 8-quinolinolate in acetonitrile

Summary Uranium(VI) can be extracted as its 8-quinolinolate into acetonitrile by means of salting-out with ammonium and sodium acetates, respectively; the metal oxinates extracted give a well-defined dc polarogram with E _1/2=–0.80V and a sharp square wave (sw) polarogram with E _p=–0.96V in the extract. The dc wave height and the sw peak current are directly proportional to the uranium(VI) concentration in the range of 6.0×10^–6 to 4.0×10^–4M at pH 6.7–10.0 and 8.0×10^–7 to 2.8×10^–5M at pH 10.5–11.0, respectively. A number of ions do not interfere in the presence of EDTA.

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Polarographische Bestimmung von Uran(VI) nach Aussalz-Extraktion als 8-Hydroxychinolat mit Acetonitril

Zusammenfassung Uran(VI) kann durch Aussalzen mit Ammonium- bzw. Natriumacetat als Oxinat mit Acetonitril extrahiert werden. Das extrahierte Oxinat ergibt ein gut ausgebildetes Gleichstrompolarogramm mit E _1/2=–0,80 V bzw. ein scharfes square-wave-Polarogramm mit E _p=–0,96 V. Die Gleichstrom-Stufenhöhe bzw. der square-wave-Peakstrom sind der U(VI)-Konzentration im Bereich 6,0·10^–6-4,0· 10^–4M (pH 6,7–10,0) bzw. 8,0·10^–7-2,8·10 ^–5M (pH 10,5–11,0) direkt proportional. Durch Zusatz von EDTA kann eine Reihe von Störungen ausgeschaltet werden.

     

Reactions of molybdate ions with polyphenol reagents: Determination of molybdenum with Pyrocatechol Violet and Alizarin Red S

Summary Molybdate forms a 11 complex with Pyrocatechol Violet in weakly acidic solutions. At the optimum pH 2.7 the apparent stability constant is (1.52±0.12)×10⁴l·mole^–1 and the molar absorptivity 2.70×10⁴l·mole^–1·cm^–1 at 540 nm. At higher and lower pH the stability of the complex decreases. In the pH range 2–5 molybdate forms a 12 complex with Alizarin Red S. The apparent stability constant is (4.8±0.6)×10⁷l·mole^–1 at the optimum pH 3.8 and the molar absorptivity (9.30±0.30)×10³l· mole^–1·cm^–1 at 480 nm. In 0.1M acid solution a less stablel: 1 complex exists, logK=4.2. Both dyes are appropriate reagents for estimation of molybdate when present in weakly or strongly acidic solutions. Near to the isoelectric point of molybdic acid (pH 1.5–2.0) accurate analysis data can be obtained only when the molybdate solution to be analysed is neutralized and boiled for 10 min to transform the less reactive polymeric molybdenum species. It is thought that hexacoordinated Mo(OH)₆ is the reactive species, forming esters with the polyphenols used.

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Reaktionen von Molybdat mit Polypbenol-Reagenzien: Bestimmung von Molybdän mit Brenzcatechinviolett und Alizarinrot S

Zusammenfassung Molybdat bildet mit Brenzcatechinviolett in schwach saurer Lösung einen 11-Komplex. Bei dem optimalen pH 2,7 beträgt die scheinbare Stabilitätskonstante (1,52 ±0,12)×10⁴l·mol^–1 und die molare Extinktion bei 540 nm 2,70×10⁴l·mol^–1·cm^–1. Bei höherem oder niedrigerem pH nimmt die Stabilität des Komplexes ab. Im pH-Gebiet 2–5 bildet Molybdat mit Alizarinrot S einen 12-Komplex. Dessen scheinbare Stabilitätskonstante beträgt (4,8±0,6)× 10⁷l·mol^–1 bei dem optimalen pH=3,8 und die molare Extinktion (9,30± 0,30)×10³l·mol^–1·cm^–1 bei 480 nm. In 0,1M saurer Lösung existiert ein weniger stabiler 11-Komplex, dessen logK=4,2. Beide Farbstoffe eignen sich für die Bestimmung von Molybdat in schwach oder stark saurer Lösung. In der Nähe des isoelektrischen Punktes der Molybdänsäure (pH 1,5-2,0) können genaue Analysenergebnisse nur erhalten werden, wenn die Molybdatlösung vorher neutralisiert und 10 min gekocht wird, um die weniger reaktionsfähigen polymeren Formen des Molybdäns abzubauen. Es wird angenommen, daß Mo(OH)₆ die hexakoordinierte reaktionsfähige Form darstellt, die mit den Polyphenolen Ester bildet.

     

Sorption of europium on zirconium oxide from aqueous solutions

Sorption of europium on zirconium oxide has been studies as a function of shaking time, concentration and nature of electrolyte. The effect of initial europium concentration and the amount of adsorbent has been investigated in the range from 6.6·10^–10 to 6.6·10^–8 mol·dm^–3 and between 10 to 200 mg of the oxide. Maximum sorption (>99.8%) from pH 10 buffer and low sorption (<3%) was observed from 0.01 mol·dm^–3 nitric or perchloric acid solution. Citrate, sulfate, EDTA and carbonate reduced the sorption significantly. Under optimal conditions Ag(I), Cs(I), Tc(VII), Sb(V), Cu(II), Nd(III), Fe(III), and especially Nd and Fe showed low distribution coefficients. The data followed both Dubinin-Radushkevich and Langmuir-type isotherms. The mean free energy, of sorption was evaluated to be 10.1 kJ mol^–1 and the sorption capacity was found to be 22.2 mmol g^–1, using the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm.     

Electromigration of carrier-free radionuclides

Dependences of La(III) overall ion mobilities on concentrations of ox^2– and tart^2– anions of oxalic and tartaric acid in aqueous solutions of 0.01 overall ionic strength and temperature 298.1 K were obtained by direct measurements of electromigration of carrierfree¹⁴⁰La-lanthanum(III). Concentration stability constants K_n and individual ion mobilities u _i ^o of oxalate and tartrate complexes of La(III) have been calculated for nitrate and perchlorate electrolytes, respectively: [La(ox)]⁺, lg K₁=5.63(9), u⁰[La(ox)]⁺=1.95(15)·10^–4 cm²·s^–1·V^–1; [la(ox)₂]^–, lg K₂=4.05(19) u⁰[La(ox)₂]^–=–1.76(20)·10^–4 cm²·s^–1·V^–1; [La(tart)]⁺, lg K₁=4.40(5), u⁰[La(tart)]⁺=+1.99(18)·10^–4 cm²·s^–1·V^–1.Results are compared with literature data. Additional, limiting individual La³⁺ ion mobility was calculated: =+6.9(1)·10^–4 cm²·s^–1·V^–1 for pure water at 298.1 K.     

Bacterial biosorption and retention of thorium and uranyl cations by Mycobacterium smegmatis

Biosorption of Th⁴⁺ and UO ₂ ²⁺ ions, both separately and in mixed equimolar ratio, was carried out using nitrate-buffered solutions of the cations at pH 1 in the presence of 5%w/w non-proliferative cell suspensions of Mycobacterium smegmatis. At equilibrium following a 3 h treatment, specific adsorption for 2 mM Th and U was, respectively, 102 and 115 mol g^–1 dry biomass for individual solutions and 102 and 42 mol g^–1 for the mixed 2/2 mM solution. Desorption studies of the cation-loaded biomass preparations in aqueous media and in soilbacterial suspensions within the pH range <1 to 11 showed that leaching of throium was generally less than 1% at pH 1–11 after 7 d, whereas uranium was leached to the extent of 2% at pH 1 and up to 10% under the same conditions in Th–U mixtures.     

Sorption of nickel on marl

Batch sorption experiments using nickel have been carried out on marl, a sedimentary, carbonaceous rock. All experiments were performed with a synthetic water of pH 7.3 and in an atmosphere of N₂/1% CO₂. Over the equilibrium nickel concentration range of 10^–11–10^–5M, sorption was linear and reversible with R_d of 819 ml g^–1. Owing to the linear sorption behavior, R_d was independent of rock/water ratio (r/w=1/5–1/100). The data suggested that at [Ni] lower than 10^–7M an isotope exchange mechanism operated, whereas at higher [Ni], sorption involved ion exchange. Sorption experiments on some of the components of marl indicated that nickel adsorbs mainly on the clay minerals and on the trace of iron hydroxide present; sorption on calcite and quartz was low.     

Influences of salt concentration,loading and pH on strontium adsorption

The adsorption of Sr on clay which contains zeolites and montmorillonite mixtures was investigated in solutions of NaCl by means of a batch technique. Sr retention was reduced with increasing NaCl concentration from 5·10^–4 to 5·10^–1M. Distribution coefficients (K _d ) linearly increased with pH in the acidic region but they were almost independent of pH in neutral and alkaline solutions. By fitting the data of the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm, the mean energies of adsorption and adsorption capacities of Sr at different pH values were calculated. The results showed that the mode of adsorption below pH 4.5 is ion exchange, while above that value a multilayer adsorption occurs. Adsorption data were fitted to the Freundlich isotherm and from empirical Freundlich parameters a site distribution function was calculated.     

Cationic polymerization of hydrocarbon monomers under the action of acyl halide complexes with Lewis acids

Polymerization of isobutylene in hexane at –78 °C under the action of the complex AcBr · 2AlBr₃ (Ac-2) affords polyisobutylene having C=O groups at the head and C-Br or C=C groups at the tail of all the molecules. The presence of the latter indicates that there occurs proton elimination from the growing carbocation with the formation of a superacid HBr · 2AlBr₃ which is unable to initiate the polymerization repeatedly under given contitions. This makes it possible to consider proton elimination as the reaction of the decay of active centers with the rate constantk _d. This value has been calculated from the rate of accumulation of the polymeric molecules having terminal C=C bonds:k _d=3.5 · 10^–4 s^–1. The rate constant of chain growthk _g has been determined from polymerization kinetics and from the content of active centers:k _g=6.2 L mol^–1 s^–1.For part 3, see ref. 4.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 883–886, May, 1993.