Solvent extraction and separation of some lanthanides and americium by extraction chromatography in the system Aliquat-336 — LiNO3 and HNO3

Summary The liquid-liquid extraction of Nd, Eu, Ho, and Am nitrates by means of the radiotracer method in the system tri-caprylmonomethyl ammonium nitrate /Aliquat-336/ — lithium nitrate and nitric acid was investigated.The mixture of tracer quantities of Eu–Am, Nd–Pr, Sm–Pm, Gd–Eu, Er–Ho, Tm–Er, Yb–Tm, and Lu–Tm were separated by column partition chromatography.

---

Lösungsmittelextraktion und Trennung einiger Lanthanide und Americium durch Extraktions-chromatographie im System Aliquat-336 — LiNO₃ und HNO₃

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Flüssig-Flüssig-Extraktion von Nd-, Eu-, Ho- und Am-Nitraten mit Hilfe radioaktiver Markierung im System Tri-caprylmonomethyl-ammoniumnitrat-/Aliquat-336/-Lithiumnitrat und Salpetersäure untersucht.Die Markierungsgemische von Eu–Am, Nd–Pr, Sm–Pm, Gd–Eu, Er–Ho, Tm–Er, Yb–Tm und Lu–Tm wurden durch Säulen-Verteilungs-Chromatographie getrennt.

---

Extraction par solvant et separation de quelques lanthanides et d'americium par chromatographie d'éxtraction dans le système «Aliquat-336, LiNO₃, HNO₃»

Sommaire On a étudié, au moyen de la méthode des radiotraceurs, l'éxtraction liquide-liquide de nitrates de Nd, Eu, Ho et Am dans le système «nitrate de tri-caprylmonométhyl ammonium [Aliquat-336], nitrate de lithium, acide nitrique».Les mélanges de Eu–Am, Nd–Pr, Sm–Pm, Gd–Eu, Er–Ho, Tm–Er, Yb–Tm et Lu–Tm à la dose des traceurs radioactifs, ont été résolus en leurs composants chromatographie de partage sur colonne.

     

Extraction of99Mo-molybdophosphate and99mTc-pertechnetate from various acid solutions by bis/2-ethylhexyl/ phosphoric acid

The extractability of⁹⁹Mo-molybdophosphoric acid H₃/PMo₁₂O₄₀/ and^99mTc-pertechnetic acid /PTcO₄/ in 20% (v/v) bis /2-ethylhexyl/ phosphoric acid /HDEHP/ in benzene has been investigated at different concentrations of HCl, HBr and HNO₃ acids. The effect of extractant concentration and diluent on the extractability of molybdophosphoric and pertechnetic acids with 20% (v/v) HDEHP in benzene from different concentrations of HCl acid has also been studied.⁹⁹Mo-molybdo-phosphoric acid was found to be selectively extracted and separated from^99mTc-pertechnetic acid with 20% HDEHP in benzene at an acidity of about 0.49M HCl, HBr and HNO₃. The extractability of H₃/PMo₁₂O₄₀/ from these acids generally follows the decreasing order HBr>HCl>HNO₃. The separation factors /K_d molybdophosphoric/K_d pertechnetic/ were found to be 12.9×10⁵ and 7.6×10⁵ for HBr and HCl, respectively. The extractability of pertechnetic acid follows the order HCl>HBrHNO₃. Benzene is the diluent due to its radiation stability. A new procedure for the separation of^99mTc from⁹⁹Mo was suggested.     

Evaluation of high-pressure microwave digestion methods for hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric determination of total selenium and arsenic in sediment

Five closed-vessel microwave digestion methods were compared for the accurate determination of arsenic and selenium in NIST SRM 1645 River Sediment by flow-injection hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometric methods. The digestion methods using five different acid mixtures (HNO₃/ H₂SO₄, HNO₃/HCl0₄, HNO₃/HCl, HNO₃/HCl/HF, HNO₃/H₂SO₄/HClO₄) were all found to be reliable for the determination of the analytes. Taking into consideration the safety and suitability for the analysis of other metals, the methods based on the use ofaqua regia are recommended for closed vessel microwave digestion with pressure control. Using the quick digestion program, the presence of up to 10% organic content in soil samples did not adversely affect the closed vessel digestion and did not cause the loss of volatile analytes. After digestion, opening the vessel under an inner pressure of below 345 kPa (50 psi) had no effect on the accuracy of the results. The recommended digestion methods (HNO₃/HCl and HNO₃/ HCl/HF) for the reliable determination of arsenic and selenium in different sediment samples were demonstrated. The calculated detection limits (3 _b ) were less than 0.030 g/g and 0.033 g/g for arsenic and selenium, respectively. All analytical results for arsenic and selenium in SRM 1645 River sediment, NRCC BCSS-1 Marine Sediment and NIES CRM Pond Sediment were within or near the certified and reported ranges, with the exception of selenium in NIES CRM No. 2 Pond Sediment.     

Application of ICP-AES to the determination of rare earth elements in phosphate samples

Summary ICP-AES has been used for the determination of rare earth elements (REE) in samples of phosphorite deposits collected from the Western Desert, Egypt. Complete dissolution of the samples was achieved by using acid digestion with HF/HNO₃/HCl in a PTFE closed vessel and subsequent treatment with HClO₄, with the same procedure but with fuming HCl replacing HClO₄ and with HNO₃ and fuming HCl in a quartz vessel and subsequent treatment with HF/HClO₄/HNO₃. Analysis lines for La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy and Y were selected after study of the spectral interferences for the sample types concerned. Results revealed that the average total content of the REE, which could be directly determined in the present samples, varies between 1.08 and 1.53 mg/g, whereas individual element concentrations range from 40 to 300 g/g. Analysis results obtained with the different dissolution techniques were found to be in good agreement. On leave from the National Research Centre, Physics Department — Spectroscopy Laboratory, Cairo, Egypt     

Radiation resistance of pyridine type anion exchange resins for spent fuel treatment

The resistance against radiation of the tertiary pyridine resins synthesized for the treatment of spent nuclear fuels and high level radioactive waste was evaluated. After irradiation at 10 MGy, only approximately 10% or less of the exchange groups were lost in HCl solutions regardless of their concentrations, while 3040% were lost in HNO₃. The pyridine resin has shown remarkable resistance against radiation particularly in HCl solution. It has been revealed that the decomposition of pyridine type resins results from the scission of the principal chains. An irradiation study was conducted also on the quaternary ammonium resins. Quatemization ratio was found to be reduced in HNO₃ solutions at 10 MGy irradiation.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) from aqueous acidic solutions using Alamine, TBP and CYANEX systems

Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) (UO₂ ²⁺) from aqueous acidic (HCl and HNO₃) solutions into a co-existing organic phase containing Alamine 308 (triisooctyl amine), TBP (tri-n-butyl phosphate) or CYANEX 302 (bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) monothiophosphinic acid) and diluent (toluene) was studied at isothermal conditions (298.2 K) at aqueous phase acidity varying in the range 0.5-6 mol/dm³. All solvent systems exhibit a maximum distribution ratio restricted in the acidity range 3-4 mol/dm³. An obvious difference in extraction behavior through amine system has been observed for two acids, HCl and HNO₃, distinguishing the divergent interactions attributed to the different mechanism of complexation depending on the acidic medium. The high degree of separation of UO₂ ²⁺ from HNO₃ solution is feasible through a complex formation with extractants ranging in the order CYANEX 302 > TBP > Alamine 308. The results were correlated using various versions of the mass action law, i.e., a chemodel approach and a modified version of the Langmuir equilibrium model comprising the formation of one or at least two U(VI)-extractant aggregated structures.     

Extraction of micro- and macroconcentrations of rare earth ions with the mixture of D2EHPA and TBP in n-hexane and cyclohexane

The synergistic solvent extraction of Eu(III) and some other rare earth elements from nitrate solutions (HNO₃+LiNO₃) by a mixture of (TBP+D2EHPA) in n-hexane and cyclohexane has been investigated at 22 °C. Antagonism found in europium extraction from 0.1M HNO₃ transforms into a synergistic effect. The synergistic effects existing for all investigated metals in extraction from 0.1M HNO₃+3M LiNO₃ were caused by formation of mixed complexes of the type Ln(D2EHPA)_2nH_2n–3+1(NO₃)₁TBP_m, where 1=1 or 2. The selectivity of the extraction in a synergistic system is lower for the La–Yb pair than in the case of D2EHPA extraction under the same conditions. On the other hand, the application of the synergistic mixture is more suitable for Eu–Ho separation. Thus the synergistic effect can be used for the separation or refining of some lanthanides.     

Isolation of iron and strontium from liquid samples and determination of Fe and Sr in liquid radioactive waste

This paper describes the method of isolating iron and strontium from liquid samples with a low concentration of ions that enables simple and rapid determination of and . The method consists of binding (concentrating) Fe and Sr at the cation exchanger Amberlite IR-120, their elution from cation exchanger with 4 M HCl or 8 M HNO₃, isolating Fe on the TRU extraction chromatographic column with 4 M HCl or 8 M HNO₃, and isolating Sr on the Sr.spec column with the mixture of 8 M HNO₃+2 M HCl or 5 M HNO₃. After the isolation, is determined by liquid scintillation counting with scintillation solution, while activity of is obtained by Cherenkov counting in 5 M HNO₃. It was shown that successive counting can be used for simultaneous determination of activity. The activity ratio of (up to 20:1) and vice versa does not impact the determination. is also determined immediately after isolation. The measurements in α,β mode can be used to verify any presence of α-emitter (americium) in the fraction of iron and to correct the result. The method was tested by determining and in model samples and radioactive waste samples. The paper also shows that Fe and Zn can be bound to the TEVA and TRU resins from the solutions of HCl, HNO₃, and mixture of HCl+HNO₃. The binding strength depends on the type of resin and the concentration of the acid or the concentration of acids in the mixture. These resin and acids can be used for mutual separation of Fe and Zn and their separation from other elements.     

Electrical Properties of Transparent Doped Oxide Films

In the present study n-type and p-type transparent conductive TiO₂ films were prepared by using sol-gel method. The n-type TiO₂ films were obtained by using Ti(OC₃H ₇ ⁱ )₄ solutions co-doped with Ru and Ta. The films were uniform and transparent in all the conditions, and their crystalline phases were anatase when HCl or HNO₃ was used as a catalyst. The resistivity decreased with increasing Ta content and increased with increasing Ru content. Most of the films showed resistivity minima at a heat-treatment temperature of 700°C. The lowest resistivity of 10¹ 10² cm was attained. The p-type TiO₂ films were obtained by using Ti(OC₃H ₇ ⁱ )₄ solutions co-doped with Co and Nb (Sb). The films were also uniform and transparent when AcAc was used, while samples heat-treated at 800°C became opaque when HCl was added. Rutile single phase appeared when the films were heat-treated at 700°C. Logarithmic resistivity of films co-doped with Co and Nb was directly proportional to the reciprocal absolute temperature. On the other hand, the slopes for films co-doped with Co and Sb were different below and above 200°–220°C. The activation energy at the low-temperature region is as low as 0.17 eV, and the resistivity at room temperature is 10⁴ 10⁵ cm.     

Bis(di-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)ytterbium(ii). Synthesis and catalytic properties

Polymeric (Cp₂Yb·THF) _n (1), ionicate-complex Cp₃YbNa (2), and mono-adduct (Bu^t ₂C₅H₃)₂Yb·THF (3) were prepared through a reaction of CpNa (Cp = C₅H₅ or C₅H₃Bu^t ₂) with Ybl₂ in THF. Cooling complex (3) in THF at –100 °C gives a bis-adduct, which reversibly dissociates to give the mono-adduct, The (Bu^t ₂C H , Yb·THF complex shows catalytic activity in the homogeneous hydrogenation of hex-l-ene and in the polymerization of styrene.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No, 7, pp. 1833–1837, July, 1996.     

Chemical and electrochemical behavior of metallic technetium in acidic media

The chemical and electrochemical properties of technetium metal were studied in 1–6 M HX and in 1 M NaX (pH 1 and 2.5), X = Cl, NO₃. The chemical dissolution rates of Tc metal were higher in HNO₃ than in HCl (i.e. 8.63 × 10^?5 mol cm^?2 h^?1 in 6 M HNO₃ versus 2.05 × 10^?9 mol cm^?2 h^?1 in 6 M HCl). The electrochemical dissolution rates in HNO₃ and HCl were similar and mainly depended on the electrochemical potential and the acid concentration. The optimum dissolution of Tc metal was obtained in 1 M HNO₃ at 1 V/AgAgCl (1.70 × 10^?3 mol cm^?2 h^?1). The dissolution potentials of Tc metal in nitric acid were in the range of 0.596–0.832 V/AgAgCl. Comparison of Tc behavior with Mo and Ru indicated that in HNO₃, the dissolution rate followed the order: Mo > Tc > Ru, and for dissolution potential the order: E _diss(Ru) > E _diss(Tc) > E _diss(Mo). The corrosion products of Tc metal were analyzed in HCl solution by UV–Visible spectroscopy and showed the presence of TcO₄ ^?. The surface of the electrode was characterized by microscopic techniques; it indicated that Tc metal preferentially corroded at the scratches formed during the polishing and no oxide layer was observed.     

Spectrographic estimation of impurities in selenium

Summary An emission spectrographic method for the estimation of impurities of Al, As, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Te, Ti, V, Zn and Zr in high purity selenium at concentrations less than 1 ppm has been developed. The impurities were separated from 1 g of selenium by volatilizing Se from its solution in nitric acid and sulphuric acid. The residue containing impurities was dissolved in small amounts of 6 M HCl and loaded along with the washing on 10 mg mixture containing graphite (90%) and sodium chloride carrier (10%), in the electrode crater. The spectra were excited in a d.c. arc carrying 13 A. The detection limits lie in the range 0.005–0.5 ppm for the different elements. The precision of the method ranges from 7–18% for these elements.

---

Spektrographische Bestimmung von Verunreinigungen in Selen

Zusammenfassung Folgende Verunreinigungen werden in hochreinem Selen in Konzentrationen von <1 ppm bestimmt: Al, As, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Te, Ti, V, Zn und Zr. Das Selen wird von den Verunreinigungen durch Verdampfen abgetrennt (Lösen einer 1 g-Probe in HNO₃/H₂SO₄). Der Rückstand wird in 6 M HCl gelöst und zusammen mit einem Graphit/NaCl-Gemisch (9010) in die Elektrodenbohrung gefüllt. Die Anregung erfolgt in einem Gleichstrombogen von 13 A. Die Nachweisgrenzen liegen im Bereich von 0,005–0,5 ppm, die Genauigkeit beträgt 7–18%.

     

Determination of arsenic in geological samples by HG AAS

A continuous hydride generation (HG) AAS procedure for the determination of As in geological samples utilizing the SH-group containing amino-acid L-cysteine for the pre-reduction of As(V) to As(III) in HNO₃ has been optimized and compared with a method utilizing KI and ascorbic acid in HCl. The influence of some transition metals (Co, Fe, Ni) on the determination of As has been investigated. Decompositions of geological certified reference materials, sediments and soils of different origin and geochemical composition with concentrated HNO₃ have been performed in open and closed systems and the resulting As content has been compared with certified and proposed data.     

The Enthalpy of Solution in Water of Histidine Complexes of Re Nitrates

The enthalpies of solution in water of RE(His)(NO₃)₃H₂O (RE=La—Nd, Sm—Lu, Y) were measured calorimetrically at 298.15 K, and the standard enthalpies of formation of RE(His)_aq³⁺ (RE=La—Nd, Sm—Lu, Y) were calculated. The plot of the enthalpies of solution vs. the atomic numbers of the elements in the lanthanide series exhibits the tetrad effect.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Acid-base behaviour of sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine

Acid-base and optical properties of sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine were studied in the presence of HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄, CAPSO and acetic acid (HAc) of different concentrations and their mixtures. The equilibrium constants pK_R+ of the transition reaction between an iminium cation Q⁺ of sanguinarine and its uncharged QOH (pseudo-base, 6-hydroxy-dihydroderivative) form were calculated. A numerical interpretation of the A-pH curves by a SQUAD-G computer program was used. Remarkable shifts of formation parts of absorbance-pH (A-pH) curves to alkaline medium were observed. The shifts depend on the type and concentration of inert electrolyte (the most remarkable for HNO₃ and HCl). The corresponding pK_R+ values ranged from 7.21 to 8.16 in the same manner (ΔpK_R+ = 0.81 and 0.73 for HNO₃ and HCl, respectively). The priority effect of ionic species and ionic strength was confirmed in the presence of NaCl and KCl. The strength of interaction of SA with bioactive compounds (i.e. receptors, transport proteins, nucleic acids etc.) may be affected because of the observed influence of both cations and anions of the inert electrolytes.      

Rapid Separation of Plutonium in Environmental Samples Using an Anion Exchange Resin Disk

A rapid analytical method of Pu in environmental samples by alpha-ray spectrometry and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) using a 3M Empore anion exchange resin disk for solid phase extraction has been developed. A trace amount of Pu was quantitatively adsorbed with an Empore anion exchange resin disk (47 mm diam.) at a flow rate of 150–200 ml/min from 8M HNO₃ sample solution. The disk was washed with 10 ml of 8M HNO₃ and 12 ml of 9M HCl and then the Pu was quantitatively eluted with 15 ml of 1M HNO₃/0.03M ascorbic acid solution. The time needed to separate Pu from the sample solution with the present method was about 20 minutes. The separated Pu was determined with alpha-ray spectrometry and HR-ICP-MS. The present method was applied to the determination of Pu in the certified reference material (IAEA-135) and the environmental soil sample. The analytical results were almost in good agreement with the literature values.     

Prevention of loss of mercury(II) during storage of dilute solutions in various containers

Summary Losses of ionic mercury from various solutions of 30 ng Hg/ml and 1 g Hg/ml concentration stored in polyethylene, polypropylene, quartz and glass were studied for storage periods up to 57 days by means of the radiotracer technique. Distilled water solutions and solutions treated with HCl and HNO₃ lost substantial fractions of their mercury, whereby both adsorption and volatilization were involved. The largest losses (of up to 98%) occurred after the storage of water and nitric acid solutions in polyethylene. A combination of hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide, also in the presence of nitric acid, proved to be excellently suited for preventing the loss of mercury. No detectable changes of mercury concentration were observed for solutions treated with 2% HCl + 2% H₂O₂ and stored in polyethylene for up to two months. After this storage period, the losses were < 2.5% for quartz, < 5% for glass and < 7% for polypropylene.

---

Verhinderung von Quecksilber(II)-Verlusten bei der Lagerung verdünnter Lösungen in verschiedenen Behältern

     

Solvent extraction of hafnium(IV) by TBP and topo from acidic organic-aqueous solutions

Tracer concentrations of Hf(IV) were extracted by 60% TBP solution in benzene from 5M HClO₄, 5M HCl, 6M HNO₃ and 8M H₂SO₄ solutions, and by 1·10^?4 M TOPO solution in benzene from 2M HClO₄ and 2M HCl solutions in the presence of a variety of organic solvents miscible with the aqueous phase. Whereas for TBP these solvents caused an increase of HF(IV) extraction, an opposite effect was observed for TOPO. The results were discussed from the point of view of various solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions.     

210Pb and210Po in tobacco-with a special focus on estimating the doses of210Po to man

Studies have been carried out on the solubility of Pu(III) oxalate by precipitation of Pu(III) oxalate from varying concentrations of HNO₃/HCl (0.5–2.0M) solutions and also by equilibrating freshly prepared Pu(III) oxalate with solutions containing varying concentrations of HNO₃/HCl, oxalic acid and ascorbic acid. Pu(III) solutions in HNO₃ and HCl media were prepared by reduction of Pu(IV) with ascorbic acid. 0.01–0.10M ascorbic acid concentration in the aqueous solution was maintained as holding reductant. The solubility of Pu(III) oxalate was found to be a minimum in 0.5M–1M HNO₃/HCl solutions containing 0.05M ascorbic acid and 0.2M excess oxalic acid in the supernatant.