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.     

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.     

Influence of tartrate ions on the coprecipitation of some trace metal inner complex compounds with bis(8-quinolyl)disulphide

The coprecipitation of Fe(III) quinoline-8-thiolate (QT) with bis (8-quinolyl) disulphide has been investigated with 1 mol × dm^–3 potassium tartrate and 0.001 mol × dm^–3 aqueous tartaric acid solutions in dependence on their pH. In return QTs of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) have been coprecipitated from 0.2, 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 mol × dm^–3 aqueous solutions of tartaric acid after adjusting the pH to 6–7. These tartaric acid concentrations relate to their initial concentrations before the coprecipitation. The presence of tartrate ions influences the recovery of the coprecipitated Fe(III), Cd(II) and Hg(II) QTs. A complete coprecipitation of the Cu(II) inner complex compound can be achieved from the aqueous solutions indicated.     

On the characteristics and mechanism of the radiation-induced chain reaction between sulfur dioxide and molecular oxygen in acid solutions

Characteristics of the -induced chain reaction between sulfur dioxide and molecular oxygen in perchloric and sulfuric acid media in the presence of Ce(III) ions have been studied. The concentration effects of dissolved oxygen (0.2·10^–3–9.4·10^–3 mol/dm³, sulfur dioxide (0.3·10^–1–2.0·10^–1 mol/dm³ and Ce(III) (0.2·10^–3–4.8·10^–3 mol/dm³) and dose rate (0.26·10¹⁹–1.0·10¹⁹ eV/dm³·s) on the radiation — chemical yield of oxygen consumption G(–O₂) and accumulation of sulfate G(HSO ₄ ^– ), have been investigated. The reaction proceeds with G(–O₂) reaching 10²–10³ molecule/100eV in a catalytic regime. The reaction rate in perchloric acid medium is 3–4 times lower than that in the sulfuric acid medium and depends on the SO₂, O₂ and Ce(III) concentrations, the reaction order varying from 1.0 to 0 and/or in the reverse direction. The mechanism of the process involves chain propagation with 3 stages and 3 intermediates: SO₃H, HSO₅ and Ce(IV). The catalytic effect is caused by the interaction of HSO₄ with Ce(IV) ions followed by their reduction when interacting with SO₂, yielding SO₃H radicals. Chain termination may be due to one or two of the three intermediates or due to all three particles, the kinetics depending on this. Kinetic equations describing the experimental data have been obtained.     

One electron oxidation of Ni(II)-iminodiacetate by carbonate radical

Reactions of carbonate radical (CO₃ ^–), generated by photolysis or by radiolysis of a carbonate solution with nickel(II)-iminodiacetate (Ni(II)IDA) were studied at pH 10.5 and ionic strength (I)==0.2 mol·dm^–3. The stable product arising from the ligand degradation in the complex is mainly glyxalic acid. Time-resolved spectroscopy and transient kinetics were studied using flash photolysis. From the kinetic data it was suggested that the carbonate radical initially reacts with Ni(III)IDA with a rate constant (2.4±0.4)·10⁶ dm³·mol^–1·s^–1 to form a Ni(II)IDA species which, however, undergoes a first-order transformation (k=2.7·10²·s^–1) to give a radical intermediate of the type Ni(II)RNHCHCO ₂ ^– ) which rapidly forms an adduct containing a Ni–C bond. This adduct decays very slowly to give rise to glyoxalic acid. From a consideration of equilibrium between Ni(II)IDA and Ni(III)IDA, the one electron reduction potential for the Ni(III)IDA/Ni(II)IDA couple was determined to be 1.467 V.     

Extraction of Pd(II) ions using tri-n-octylamine xylene base supported liquid membranes

Membranes, based on tri-n-octylamine (TOA) xylene liquid, supported in hydrophobic microporous films have been used to study the transport of Pd(II) ions, after extraction into the membrane. Various parameters, such as the effect of hydrochloric acid concentration in the feed solution, TOA concentration in the membrane phase, effect of stripping agent like nitric acid concentration, and temperature on the flux of Pd(II) ions across the liquid membranes have been investigated. The optimum conditions of transport for these metal ions determined are, TOA concentration, 1.25 mol·dm^–3, HCl concentration in the feed solution, 5 mol·dm^–3, and concentration of nitric acid used as a stripping, agent 5 mol·dm^–3. The maximum values of the flux and permeability determined under the optimum condition are 23·10^–6 mol·m^–2·s^–1 and 2.40·10³ m²·s^–1 at 25°C. The results obtained have been used to elucidate the mechanism of palladium transport.     

Liquid — Liquid extraction of silver(I) by diphenyl-2-pyridylmethane in benzene from aqueous mineral acid — Thiocyanate solutions

Liquid — liquid extraction of Ag(I) by diphenyl-2-pyridylmethane (DPPM) in benzene from aqueous nitric and sulfuric acid solutions containing thiocyanate ions has been studied at ambient temperature (24±2 °C). The metal is extracted quantitatively from 0.01M HNO₃+0.02M KSCN; or 0.25M H₂SO₄+0.02M KSCN by 0.1M DPPM (optimum extraction conditions). Slope analysis indicates that two types of ion-pair complexes i.e. [(DPPMH)⁺·Ag(SCN) ₂ ^– ] and [(DPPMH) ₂ ⁺ ·Ag(SCN) ₃ ^2– ] are involved in the extraction process. Separation factors determined at optimum conditions reveal the separation of Ag(I) from Cs(I), Br(I), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Fe(III), Au(III) (from HNO₃ solution only), Cr(III), Hf(IV), Ta(V), Sn(IV) and Cr(VI). With the exception of thiosulfate, other complexing anions like ascorbate, acetate, citrate, oxalate do not hinder the extraction of Ag(I) under optimum conditions.     

Extraction of thorium from aqueous nitric acid solution by bis-2-(butoxyethyl ether) (DBC)

The solvent extraction of thorium(IV) (4.3·10^–4M) from nitric acid solution by bis-2-(butoxyethyl ether) (butex or DBC) has been studied. It has been investigated as a function of nitric acid, extractant and metal ion concentration. The effect of equilibration time, diverse ions and salting-out agent on the extraction has also been examined. Among anions, fluoride, phosphate, oxalate and perchlorate have reduced the extraction. Cations such as Na(I), K(I), Ca(II), Zn(II), Al(III), Ti(IV), Zr(IV) except Sr(II) and Pb(II) do not interfere in the extraction. The extraction is enhanced upto 97% in three stages at 6M HNO₃ having 2.94M NaNO₃ as salting-out agent. The extraction is found to be independent of thorium concentration in the range studied (4.3·10^–4–4.3·10^–2M). The temperature (18–45°C) has an adverse effect on the extraction. A 1% solution of ammonium bifluoride is found to be a good stripping solution and recovery of thorium is >98%.     

Reversed-phase partition chromatographic separation of minor actinides with bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfoxide from acidic nitrate PUREX waste solutions

The uptake behavior of U(VI), Pu(IV), Am(III) and a few long-lived fission products from nitric acid media by bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfoxide (BESO) adsorbed on Chromosorb has been studied U(VI), Pu(IV) and Zr(IV) are taken up appreciably as compared to trivalent actinides/lanthanides including some coexisting fission product contaminants which are weakly sorbed on the column. Chromosorb could be loaded with (1.12±0.03) g of BESO per g of the support. Maximum sorption is observed around 4–5 mol·dm^–3 HNO₃ for both U(VI) and Pu(IV), which are sorbed as their disolvates. The elution of (U(VI) and Pu(IV) from the metal loaded sorbent has also been optimized. Desorption of U(VI) is easily accomplished with dilute nitric acid (ca. 0.01 mol·dm^–3)while Pu(IV) is reductively stripped with 0.1 mol·dm^–3 NH₂OH·HCl. Effective sequential separation of U(VI), Pu(IV) and Am(III) from their several admixtures could be readily achieved from real medium and low level active acidic process raffinates.     

Complexation of Ni (II) and Zn(II) ions by 3-(1-naphthyI)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid

The complexation equilibria between Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal ions with 3-(1-naphthyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid (H₂NMP) were studied by glass electrode potentiometry, at 25 °C and 1.0 mol·dm^–3 in NaClO₄ as constant ionic medium in 50% (v/v) water-ethanol solutions. Formation constants for the complexes Ni(NMP), Ni(NMP) ₂ ^2– , Zn(NMP) and Zn(NMP) ₂ ^2– , refined by the MINIGLASS program, are reported.     

Extraction and stripping study of strontium ions across D2EHPA-TBP-kerosene oil based supported liquid membranes

A Sr ion transport study across D2EHPA-TBP kerosene oil based liquid membranes supported on microporous polypropylene film has been performed. The parameters studied were the effect of di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and TBP concentration variation in the membrane liquid, HNO₃ concentration variation in the stripping phase and citric acid concentration variation in the feed solution. The optimum conditions of transport are 0.3 mol/dm³ D2EHPA, 0.1 mol/dm³ TBP, 0.01 mol/dm³ citric acid in feed and 2 mol/dm³ HNO₃ in the stripping phase. The mechanism of transport observed is counter-ion coupled transport. The coupling ions are protons. The maximum flux for Sr ion transport observed is 5.33·10^–5 mol·m^–2·s^–1 and maximum permeability under optimum conditions observed is 8.08·10^–11 m^–2·s^–1.     

Electron irradiation studies on ammonium molybdophosphate

Ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) was irradiated with electrons up to a dose of 1 MGy. X-ray diffraction patterns and FT-IR of irradiated and control AMP samples were recorded. Uptake of¹³⁷Cs from nitric acid in the range of 0.2 to 10 mol·dm^–3 was estimated by a batch equilibration technique. AMP undergoes perceptible changes in its physico-chemical characteristics on irradiation with electrons. Uptake of¹³⁷Cs from nitric acid by irradiated AMP was nearly the same as the control AMP in the nitric acid concentration range of 6 to 10 mol·dm^–3 and relatively higher in the range of 0.2 to 6 mol·dm^–3. The results are discussed in terms of available information on the physicochemical properties of 12-heteropoly acids and their salts.     

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.     

Solvent extraction of thorium from nitric acid solutions using di-N-butyl sulfoxide (DBSO) in xylene

The extraction of thorium(IV) from nitric acid solutions by di-n-butyl sulfoxide (DBSO) in xylene has been investigated as a function of acid, extractant and the metal concentration. The effect of contact time and diverse ions on the extraction has been examined. Phosphate, fluoride, oxalate and perchlorate reduce the extraction to some extent. The extraction of other metal ions, especially impurities associated with thorium in ores, has been measured under optimised conditions selected for thorium extraction. Na(I), K(I), Ca(II), Sr(II), Mn(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Al(III), Ti(IV) and Hf(IV) are not extracted. Among the stripping solutions employed for back-extraction, deionized water is found to be the best and more than 99% thorium can be back-extracted in three stages. The extracted species is supposed to be Th(NO₃)₄·2DBSO. The extraction is found to be almost independent of the thorium concentration in the range between 4.3·10^–4–4.3·10^–2M and inversely dependent upon the temperature. The values of thermodynamic functions H, G and S for extraction equilibrium have been evaluated to be –19.6±2.9 kJ·mole^–1, –18.1±2.0 kJ·mole^–1 and –5.0±2.9 J·mole^–1·K^–1, respectively.     

Radiation induced exchange reaction between thallium(I) and thallium(III)—Comparison of sulfuric acid and perchiloric acid solution

The rate constant of radiation induced exchange reaction between thallium(I) and thallium(III) ions has been studied for elucidating the mechanisms which are responsible for (T1(II) intermediates or bridging groups (SO ₄ ^2– ) in sulfuric acid and perchloric acid solutions. It was found that the radiation induced exchange reaction is accelerated by the sulfate ion, and the rate of the thallium(II)-thallium(I) reaction is faster than that of the thallium(II)-thallium(III) process in perchloric acid solution.     

The aggregation in dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solutions

The aggregation of dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (DTAOH) aqueous solutions has been studied by several methods. It is stepwise and four critical points were found. AtC _T=(2.51±0.10)×10^–4 mol · dm^–3 the surface excess becomes zero, atC _T=(1.300±0.041)×10^–3 mol · dm^–3 small aggregates from, which grow with concentration. AtC _T=(1.108±0.010)×10^–2 mol · dm^–3 true micelles form (CMC) and at (3.02±0.28)×10^–2 mol · dm^–3 the structure of micelles probably changes affecting their properties. The DTAOH micelles are highly ionized (=0.8) at the CMC, and decreases to reach very small values when the total concentration increases.     

Pulse radiolysis of Triton X-100 aqueous solution

Pulse radiolysis of deaerated aqueous solutions of 4·10^–5–2.4·10^–3 mol dm^–3 Triton X-100 gives rise to a transient species originating from the reactions of OH radicals and H atoms. The rate constants of these reactions were found to be 8.8·10⁹ mol^–1·dm³·s^–1 and 1.25·10⁹ mol^–1·dm³·s^–1, respectively, for Triton X-100 concentrations below CMC. The corresponding transient species were found to decay according to second order kinetics. The mechanism of the reactions involved including concentration effects is discussed.     

Extraction of metal ions with a primary amine

This paper describes some experimental results obtained at the extraction of sulfate solutions of U(VI), Mo(VI), V(V), Ce(IV), Zr(IV), Fe(III), Al(III) with a benzene solution of Primene JMT. The aqueous solutions consist of metal sulfates (or other metal salts) in the presence of sulfuric acid with a concentration range of 0–2.1 mol·dm^–3, the concentration of amine in the organic phase being 0.1–0.3 mol·dm^–3. The presence of various species of metal ions in the aqueous phase is considered and the equilibrium concentration of substances extracted in the organic phase is determined. On the basis of the results of chemical analysis (concentration of metals and sulfate ions) the composition of the prevailing complexes in the organic phase is proposed.     

Separation of Cesium from Intermediate Level Waste Solutions Using Zirconyl Tungstate Ceramic-Supported Membranes

Zirconyl tungstate ceramic-supported membranes were developed and characterized. The transport process of Cs(I), Sr(II) and La(III) from the anode compartment to the cathode was investigated. The cationic fluxes for Cs(I), Sr(II) and La(III) were found to be 9·10^–10, 2.7·10^–9 and 2.4·10^–9 g·eq·cm^–2·s^–1, respectively. The transport numbers of these cations were found to be 0.12, 0.07 and 0.09, respectively. Separation of Cs(I), Sr(II) and La(III) was achieved using EDTA as a chelating agent in the anode compartment. Cs(I) was successfully separated with a decontamination factor of 97% from simulated intermediate level liquid waste (ILLW) containing Cs(I) and Sr(II).     

Electrochemical studies of berberine and jatrorubine by pulse polarography

The application of pulse polarography (PP) and differential pulse polarography (DPP) for the quantitative determination of berberine and Jatrorubine in aqueous, acidic solutions was investigated. The proposed methods could be successfully applied in the concentration range between 5·10^–7 (DPP) or 1·10^–6 (PP) and 5·10^–5 mol/dm³ of alkaloids.