U(VI) mono-hydroxo humate complexation

The complexation of the uranyl ion with humic acid is investigated. The humic acid ligand concentration is described as the concentration of reactive humic acid molecules based on the number of humic acid molecules, taking protonation of functional groups into account. Excess amounts of U(VI) are used and the concentration of the humic acid complex is determined by the solubility enhancement over the solid phase. pH is varied between 7.5 to 7.9 in 0.1M NaClO₄ under normal atmosphere and room temperature. The solubility of U(VI) in absence of humic acid is determined over amorphous solid phase between pH 4.45 and 8.62. With humic acid, only a limited range of data can be used for the determination of the complexation constant because of flocculation or sorption of the humic acid upon progressive complexation. Analysis of the complex formation dependency with pH shows that the dominant uranyl species in the concerned pH range are UO₂(OH)⁺ and (UO₂)₃(OH)₅ ⁺. The complexation constant is evaluated for the humate interaction with the to UO₂(OH)⁺ ion. The stability constant is found to be logβ = 6.94±0.3 l/mol. The humate complexation constant of the uranyl mono-hydroxo species thus is significantly higher than that of the nonhydrolyzed uranyl ion (6.2 l/mol). Published data on the Cm³⁺, CmOH²⁺ and Cm(OH)₂ ⁺ humate complexation are reevaluated by the present approach. The higher stability of the hydrolysis complex is also found for Cm(III) humate complexation.     

Adsorption of U(VI) on montmorillonite pillared with hydroxy-aluminum

Hydroxy-aluminum pillared Na-montmorillonite(OH–Al-MT) was prepared for studying sorption of U(VI) in the existence of soluble calcium (Ca²⁺), carbonate ion (CO₃^2?) and humic acid. Various characterizations confirm that hydroxy-aluminum was successfully pillared into Na-montmorillonite (Na-MT). The effects of pH, concentration of Ca²⁺ and CO₃^2? as well as HA on the sorption capacity of Na-MT and OH–Al-MT for U(VI) has been investigated by batch experiments. Additionally, the kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of adsorption of U(VI) were discussed in detailed. The study indicates that OH–Al-MT can be a potentially promising low-cost adsorbent for removal of U(VI) in wastewaters.     

Extraction and thermodynamic behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid solution with tri-isoamyl phosphate

The extraction behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) with tri-isoamyl phosphate–kerosene (TiAP–KO) from nitric acid medium was investigated in detail using the batch extraction method as a function of aqueous-phase acidity, TiAP concentration and temperature, then the thermodynamic parameters associated with the extraction were derived by the second-law method. It could be noted that the distribution ratios of U(VI) or Th(IV) increased with increasing HNO₃ concentration until 6 or 5 M from 0.1 M. However, a good separation factor (D _U(VI)/D _Th(IV)) of 88.25 was achieved at 6 M HNO₃, and the stripping of U(VI) from TiAP–KO with deionized water or diluted nitric acid was easier than that of Th(IV). The probable extracted species were deduced by log D-log c plot at different temperatures as UO₂(NO₃)₂·(TiAP)_(1–2) and Th(NO₃)₄·(TiAP)_(2–3), respectively. Additionally, △H, △G and △S for the extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) revealed that the extraction of U(VI) by TiAP was an exothermic process and was counteracted by entropy change, while the extraction of Th(IV) was an endothermic process and was driven by entropy change.     

Extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) from perchlorate media, by PC-88A

Extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) has been investigated from perchlorate media using 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A) dissolved in toluene. The extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) was found to be quantitative in the pH range 1.6 to 3.2, 2.0 to 4.7 and 2.3 to 3.8, respectively, with 3.0^.10^-3, 5.6^.10^-4 and 1.0^.10^-2M PC-88A dissolved in toluene. U(VI) was stripped with 4.0M HCl, Zr(IV) with 2.5M NaF and Th(IV) with 8.0M HCl from the metal loaded organic phase containing PC-88A dissolved in toluene. The probable extracted species have been ascertained by plotting log D vs. log [HR] as UO₂R₂ ^.2HR, ZrR₄ ^.2HR and ThR₄ ^.4HR, respectively. U(VI) was separated from Zr(IV) and Th(IV) and from other associated metals. This method was proved by the determination of U(VI) in some real samples.     

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.     

Synergistic effect of HBMPPT with PSO, DOSO and TBP on the extraction of U(VI) and on the separation of U(VI) and Th(IV)

Some popular neutral extractants (PSO-petroleum sulfoxide, DOSO-di-n-octyl sulfoxide, TBP-tributylphosphate etc.) were chosen as synergist to study the synergistic effect on the extraction reaction with HBMPPT (4-benzoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-thione) for U(VI), and the synergistic separation ability of HBMPPT for U(VI) and Th(IV). The synergistic extraction ability shown by the studied systems for U(VI) is as follows: PSO>DOSO>TBP, and the same sequence was also verified for the separation coefficient of U(VI) and Th(IV). The synergistic complexes may be presented as: UO₂NO₃·BMPPT·S and UO₂(BMPPT)₂·S for U(VI) (S is PSO, DOSO or TBP).     

Extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid medium using tri(butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-paraffin

Extraction behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid medium is investigated using organo-phosphorous extractant, tri(butoxyethyl) phosphate in n-paraffin at room temperature (27 ± 1 °C). The effect of diluents, nitric acid concentration as well as extractant concentration on extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) are evaluated. Extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid medium proceeds via solvation mechanism. Slope analysis technique showed the formation of neutral complexes of the type of UO₂(NO₃)₂·2TBEP and Th(NO₃)₄·3TBEP with U(VI) and Th(IV) respectively in the organic phase. The FTIR data showed shifting of P=O stretching frequency from 1,282 to 1,217 cm⁻¹ indicating the strong complexation of P=O group with UO₂ ²⁺ ions in the organic phase. Effect of stripping agents, other metal ions and their separation with respect to U(VI) extraction has also been investigated.     

Solvent Extraction Separation of Th(IV) and U(VI) with PC-88A

Liquid-liquid extraction of Th(IV) and U(VI) has been investigated by commercial extractant PC-88A in toluene. The optimum conditions for extraction of these metals have been established by studying the various parameters like acid concentration/pH, reagent concentration, diluents and shaking time. The extraction of Th(IV) was found to be quantitative with 0.1–1.0M HNO₃ acid and in the pH range 1.0–4.0 while U(VI) was completely extracted in the pH range 1.0–3.5 with 2.5·10^–2M and 2.·10^–2M PC-88A in toluene, respectively. The probable extracted species have been ascertained by log D-log C plot as ThR₄·4HR and UO₂R₂·2HR, respectively. The method permits separation of Th(IV) and U(VI) from associated metals with a recovery of 99.0%.     

The adsorption behaviour of99Mo(VI),238U(VI),95Zr(IV) and95Nb(V) on alumina

The distribution of Mo(VI) and the interfering radiocontaminants U(VI), Zr(IV) and Nb(V) have been investigated between chromatographic alumina and aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions of concentrations ranging from 0.5M to 11M. At low acidities (less than 1M HCl) the distribution coefficients increase with the decrease of acid concentration, while in the region of 2–4M they increase with the increase of the acid concentration. Above 4M HCl, the increase inK _D continues with the acid concentration for both Zr(IV) and Nb(V), but constant values are reached for U(VI) and Mo(VI).     

Adsorptive removal of U(VI) and Th(IV) from aqueous solutions using polymer-based electrospun PEO/PLLA fibrous membranes

Fibrous membranes based on poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(l-lactide) fabricated by electrospinning were evaluated for the first time as substrates for the adsorption of tetravalent thorium (Th(IV)) and hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) from aqueous media. The membranes consisted of microfibers with diameters of approximately 2 μm as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on the membrane was investigated as a function of pH, ionic strength and initial metal concentration under normal atmospheric conditions. The experimental data indicated increased affinity of the membrane for Th(IV) and U(VI), which was pH depended and reaches maximum values (>90 %) for Th(IV) and U(VI) at pH 3 and pH 6.5, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (q _max) at optimum conditions was evaluated from the Langmuir isotherm and was found to amount 50.08 and 9.3 mmol kg^?1 for Th(IV) and U(VI), respectively. In addition, studies on the effect of ionic strength on the adsorption efficiency did not show any significant effect indicating that the adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on the membrane was most probably based on specific interactions and the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes. The significantly higher adsorption efficiency of the membrane for Th(IV) in acidic media (pH ≤ 3) could be utilized for a pH-triggered, selective separation of Th(IV) from U(VI) from aqueous media.     

Synergistic extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid with 4-benzoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-thione (HBMPPT) and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in toluene

The extractant HBMPPT (4-benzoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-thione) was synthesized from HBMPP. Its m.p. was 106–108°C. The synergistic extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid solution by HBMPPT and TOPO in toluene was studied. The extraction ability of HBMPPT was not so high as that of its parent (HBMPP), but when a little tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) was added the ability to extract U(VI) and Th(IV) was seriously improved. The synergistic extracted complexes may be presented as UO₂NO₃·BMPPT·TOPO and UO₂(BMPPT)₂·TOPO for U(VI), and Th(NO₃)₃·BMPPT·TOPO and Th(NO₃)₂(BMPPT)₂·TOPO for Th(IV) respectively.     

An effective process for the separation of U(VI), Th(IV) from rare earth elements by using ionic liquid Cyphos IL 104

Separation and recovery of U(VI) and Th(IV) from rare earth minerals is a very challenging work in rare earth industrial production. In the present study, a homemade membrane emulsification circulation (MEC) extractor was used to separate U(VI) and Th(IV) from rare earth elements by using Cyphos IL 104 as an extractant. Batch experiments were carried out using a constant temperature oscillator to investigate the extraction parameters of the single element and the results indicated that Cyphos IL 104 could reach the extraction equilibrium within 30 min for all the three elements, i.e., U(VI), Th(IV), and Eu(III). Besides, the MEC extractor possessed a strong phase separation ability. The extraction efficiencies of U(VI), Th(IV), La(III), Eu(III) and Yb (III) increased with the increase of pH. La(III), Eu(III) and Yb(III) were hardly extracted when pH ≤ 1.50, which was beneficial for effectively separating U(VI) and Th(IV) from La(III), Eu(III) and Yb(III). In the multi-stages stripping experiments, when the stripping stage number was 3, the effective separation could be achieved by using HCl and H₂SO₄, since the stripping efficiency reached 80.0% and 100.0% for Th(IV) and U(VI), respectively. Slope method and FT-IR spectra showed that Cyphos IL 104 reacted with U(VI) and Th(IV) by chelation mechanism. The extraction of multi-elements indicated that U(VI) and Th(IV) could be well separated from the solution which contains all rare earth elements, and the extraction efficiencies of U(VI) and Th(IV) both were close to 100.0%. Based on the above experimental results, a flowchart for efficient separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) from rare earth elements was proposed.     

Extraction of uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) with some high molecular weight aliphatic monoamides from nitric acid medium

The extraction behavior of U(VI) and Pu(IV) with dioctyloctanamide (DOOA), dioctylethylhexanamide (DOEHA) and diisobutylethylhexanamide (DIBEHA) was investigated from nitric acid medium. With DOOA, U(VI) extraction is higher than that for Pu(IV) upto 5M HNO₃ and the trend is reversed at higher acid concentrations. Extraction yield of U(VI) is higher than that for Pu(IV) in the case of DOEHA and DIBEHA. DIBEHA extraction of Pu(IV) is found to be very small. The lower value of the distribution ratio for Pu(IV) with branched amides was attributed to steric reasons. The possibility of using these amides for separation of U(VI) and Pu(IV) without valency adjustment was explored. Both U(VI) and Pu(IV) are extracted as their disolvates by DOOA and DOEHA.     

Selective extraction of U(VI) over Th(IV) from acidic streams using di-bis(2-ethylhexyl) malonamide anchored chloromethylated polymeric matrix

A new chelating polymeric sorbent has been developed using Merrifield chloromethylated resin anchored with di-bis (2-ethylhexyl) malonamide (DB2EHM). The modified resin was characterized by CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, FT-NIR-FIR spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis and also by thermo gravimetric analysis. The fabricated sorbent showed superior binding affinity for U(VI) over Th(IV) and other diverse ions, even under high acidities. Various physio-chemical parameters, like solution acidity, phase exchange kinetics, metal sorption capacity, electrolyte tolerance studies, etc., influencing the resin’s metal extractive behavior were studied by both static and dynamic method. Batch extraction studies performed over a wide range of solution acidity (0.01-10 M) revealed that selective extraction of U(VI) could be achieved even up to 4 M acidity with distribution ratios (D) in the order of ∼10³. The phase exchange kinetics studies performed for U(VI) and Th(IV) revealed that time duration of <15 min was sufficient for >99.5% extraction. But similar studies when preformed for trivalent lanthanides gave very low D values (<50), with the extraction time extending up to 60 min. The metal sorption studies performed for U(VI) and Th(IV) at 5 M HNO₃ was found to be 62.5 and 38.2 mg g⁻¹,respectively. Extraction efficiency in the presence of inferring electrolyte species and inorganic cations were also examined. Metal ion desorption was effective using 10-15 mL of 1 M (NH₄)₂CO₃ or 0.5 M α-hydroxy isobutyric acid (HIBA). Extraction studies performed on a chromatographic column at 5 M acidity were found to give enrichment factor values of 310 and 250 for U(VI) and Th(IV), respectively. The practical utility of the fabricated chelating sorbent and its efficiency to extract actinides from acidic waste streams was tested using a synthetic nuclear spent fuel solution. The R.S.D. values obtained on triplicate measurements (n = 3) were within 5.2%.     

LIX 84 as an extractant for throium(IV), uranium(VI) and molybdenum(VI)

The extraction order of Th(IV), U(VI) and Mo(VI) based on pH_0.5 values is Mo(VI)>U(VI)>Th(IV). Quantitative extraction has been observed for U(VI) by mixture of 10% (v/v) LIX 84 and 0.1M dibenzoylmethane at pH 4.2 and by mixture of 10% LIX 84 and 0.05M HTTA in the pH range 5.5–7.3 and for Mo(VI) by 10% LIX 84 from chloride media at pH 1.5. The order of extraction of Mo(VI) from 1N acid solutions is HCl>H₂SO₄>HNO₃>HClO₄ and extraction decreases very rapidly with increase in the concentration of HCl as compared to that from H₂SO₄, HNO₃ and HClO₄ acid solutions. The diluents C₆H₆, CCl₄ and CHCl₂ are found to be superior ton-butyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol for extraction of Mo(VI). Influence of concentration of different anions on the extraction of U(VI) and Mo(VI) has been studied. Very little extraction has been observed in case of Th(IV) by LIX 84 or its mixtures with other chelating extractants or neutral donors.     

Bestimmung von Verteilungsverhältnissen von Uran(IV) mit Hilfe der Extraktionschromatographie in dem System: unverdünntes Tri-n-butylphosphat und wäßrige Salpetersäure

The distribution ratio of U(IV),D _U(IV), between undiluted tri-n-butyl phosphate and aqueous nitric acid has been determined by means of extraction chromatographic columns. The separation factor, β, of U(VI) and U)IV) (defined as the ratio of the distribution ratios,D, \(\beta = \frac{{D_{U(VI)} }}{{D_{U(IV)} }}\) ) was obtained experimentally via the retention volumes.D _U(VI) is known from the literature andD _U(IV) was calculated. TheD _U(IV)-values agree with those obtained by batch experiments, the reproducibility was even better. The stability of U(IV) in the chromatographic columns is good. In the very rare cases, in which U(IV) was oxidized to U(VI) during the experiment, this can be recognized from the shape of the elution curve, because the U(IV) peak shows a tailing. As long as the U(IV) peak is visible, even these experiments can be evaluated which was not possible in batch experiments.     

Application of NKF-6 zeolite for the removal of U(VI) from aqueous solution

To better understand the application of NKF-6 zeolite as an adsorbent for the removal of U(VI) from radionuclides and heavy metal ions polluted water, herein, NKF-6 zeolite was employed to remove U(VI) at different experimental conditions. The influence of solid/liquid ratio, contact time, pH, ionic strength, humic substances and temperature on sorption of U(VI) to NKF-6 zeolite was investigated using batch technique under ambient conditions. The experimental results demonstrated that the sorption of U(VI) on NKF-6 zeolite was strongly dependent on pH. The sorption property of U(VI) was influenced by ionic strength at pH < 7.0, whereas was independent of ionic strength at pH > 7.0. The presence of fulvic acid or humic acid promoted the sorption of U(VI) on NKF-6 zeolite at low pH values while restrained the sorption at high pH values. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ΔS ⁰, ΔH ⁰, and ΔG ⁰) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms demonstrated that the sorption process of U(VI) on NKF-6 zeolite was endothermic and spontaneous. At low pH values, the sorption of U(VI) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation and ion exchange with Na⁺/H⁺ on NKF-6 zeolite surfaces, while inner-sphere surface complexation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH values. From the experimental results, one can conclude that NKF-6 zeolite can be used as a potential adsorbent for the preconcentration and solidification of U(VI) from large volumes of aqueous solutions.     

Preconcentration and determination of ultra-trace amounts of U(VI) and Th(IV) using titan yellow-impregnated Amberlite XAD-7 resin

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of ultra trace amounts of U(VI) and Th(IV) ions by spectrophotometric method after solid-phase extraction on a new extractant-impregnated resin (EIR) has been reported. The new EIR was synthesised by impregnating a weakly polar polymeric adsorbent, Amberlite XAD-7, with titan yellow (TY) as extractant. The analytical method is based on the simultaneous adsorption of analyte ions in a mini-column packed with TY/XAD-7 and performing sequential elution with 0.5% (w/v) Na₂CO₃ for uranium and 2.0 M HCl for thorium. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH, salting out agent and sample volume were investigated. The interference effects of foreign ions on the retention of the analyte ions were also explored. The limits of detection for U(VI) and Th(IV) were as low as 50 and 25 ng L^?1, respectively. Relative standard deviations (n = 7) for U(VI) and Th(IV) were 3.1% and 2.9%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ultra trace amounts of U(VI) and Th(IV) in different real matrices including industrial wastewater samples and environmental waters. The proposed method was validated using three certified reference materials and the results were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Extraction and separation of Th(IV) and U(VI) from nitric acid media using PIA-8 and HDEHP

Extraction behavior of Th(IV) and U(VI) has been investigated with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphinic acid (PIA-8) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) from nitric acid media in toluene. The optimum conditions for extraction of these metals have been established by studying various parameters like acid concentration, pH, reagent concentration, diluents and shaking time. The extraction of Th(IV) was found to be quantitative with 0.3-2.5M HNO₃ by 2.5^.10^-2M HDEHP and in the pH range 0.1-2.5 with 2.3^.10^-2M PIA-8 in toluene. U(VI) was completely extracted in the acidic range of 0.1-2.0M HNO₃ with 2.2^.10^-2M HDEHP and in the pH range of 1.0-3.0 with 2.0^.10^-2M PIA-8 in toluene. The probable extracted species have been ascertained by log D-log c plot as UO₂ R₂ ^.2HR with both the reagents and Th (NO₃)₂R₂ ^.2HR with PIA-8 and Th (NO₃)₃R^.3HR with HDEHP, respectively. Temperature dependence of the extraction equilibrium is examined by the temperature variation method. Separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) was also carried out from commonly associated metals.     

X‐ray photoreduction of U(VI)‐bearing compounds

During XPS analysis, the soft X‐ray‐induced reduction of metals such as Cr(VI) and Ce(IV) in oxides has been reported in the literature and some mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. The reduction of U(VI) by the beam during X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy has been already reported in the literature but only for U(VI) sorbed or precipitated onto solids with reducing properties (as micas or pyrites) for whose Fe(II) can also induce the reduction of U(VI), or onto TiO₂ whose the photocatalytic properties are well known. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of X‐ray beam on U(VI) bulk compounds (UO₃, UO₂(OH)₂, (UO₂)₂SiO₄, UO₂(CH₃COO)₂ and UO₂C₂O₄). Successive U4f, U5f, C1s XPS spectra were recorded and compared as a function of the irradiation time. The XPS photoreduction of U(VI) into U(IV) is only observed for uranyl compounds containing organic matter (uranyl acetate and uranyl oxalate). Considering the evolution of the C1s signal during the X‐ray irradiation, a significant decrease of the C ? O component simultaneously to the U(VI) reduction is observed, which suggests a desorption of CO or other volatile organic products from the solid surface. All these results on U(VI) bulk compounds indicate the important role of organic carbon species in the photoreduction process and to explain these observations, a photoreduction mechanism has been suggested. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.