Structural study of lanthanides(III) in aqueous nitrate and chloride solutions by EXAFS

Structural studies of lanthanide ions (Nd³⁺≈Lu³⁺: about 1 mol/l) in the aqueous chloride (HCl: 0≈6 mol/l) and nitrate (HNO₃: 0?13 mol/l) solutions were carried out by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The radial structural functions appeared to be mainly characterized by hydration in both chloride and nitrate systems and coordination of nitrate ion in nitrate systems. These results indicated that nitrate ion forms inner-sphere complex with lanthanide but chloride ion hardly forms one. The quantitative analyses of EXAFS data have revealed that the total coordination numbers of lanthanide ranged from about 9 for light lanthanides to about 8 for heavy lanthanides in all the samples. The bond distances of Ln?O were from about 2.3 to 2.5 Å for Ln?OH₂ and from about 2.4 to 2.6 Å for Ln?O₂NO. Nitrate ion locates at 0.1 Å longer position than water, it suggested that nitrate ion ligates more weakly than water.     

Interactions of La(III) with anions in aqueous solutions. A139La NMR study

The interactions of the La(III) cations with three anions (X), nitrate, chloride and perchlorate, in aqueous solutions in the pH range 4.0–6.5, were studied by¹³⁹La NMR spectroscopy. A single model, involving the formation of the contact ion-pair (inner-sphere complex) (LaX)²⁺ was successfully and quantitatively applied to the chemical shift and the transverse relaxation rate data. Both measurements gave values for the thermodynamic equilibrium constants of formation of (LaX)²⁺ (K _th ) in good agreement (average K _th =0.45±0.05; 0.15±0.09; 0.03±0.01, respectively for nitrate, chloride and perchlorate). The complexes are characterized by chemical shifts of –25, 22 and –3.1 ppm and by transverse relaxation rates of 11.2, 5 and 1.65 kHz respectively for nitrate, chloride and perchlorate. The¹³⁹La quadrupolar relaxation rate is not controlled by the reorientational correlation time. This finding is discussed, and it is suggested that the very fast exchange of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of La(III) is responsible for the time fluctuation of the electric field gradient at the¹³⁹La nucleus site.     

Structural Effects and Microheterogeneity in Concentrated Solutions and Their Role in the Formation of Cadmium Chloride Complexes

The proton relaxation rate and Raman spectra in the regions of vibrations of the Cd-Cl, Cd-OH₂ groups and bending vibrations eta₄ of nitrate ions in the systems CdAn₂-NaCl-H₂O (An = Cl^-, ClO₄ ^-, NO₃ ^-) were measured. In the range of subeutectic concentrations of cadmium salts all possible forms of chloride complexes of cadmium are formed. In the posteutectic region the formation of complexes is structurally induced; it depends on the nature of dominating cybotactic groups and is limited to the formation of only low-coordinate forms. The mechanisms of the formation of chloride complexes in perchlorate and nitrate systems were proposed. It was concluded that, in contrast to the chloride system, the nitrate and perchlorate systems in the presence of sodium chloride are characterized by structural microheterogeneity. The distinctions in the nature of the microheterogeneity and its effect on the complex formation were considered. The solubility polytherm and Raman spectra of the system Cd(NO₃)₂-NaCl-H₂O with a high content of the both salts were measured. The causes of abnormally high mutual solubility of nitrate salts in multicomponent solutions containing salts that crystallize in the hydrated and anhydrous forms were suggested.     

Extraction and complex formation of thorium(IV) with 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(4-tolyl)-4-pyridone

The extraction of thorium(IV) from aqueous hydrochloric and nitric acid solution by 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(4-tolyl)-4-pyridone (HY) dissolved in chloroform has been studied. Thorium(IV) is quantitatively extracted at pH > 3.8 from the hydrochloric acid solution containing an excess of chloride ions, and at pH > 2.5 from nitric acid solution containing an excess of nitrate ions. Extracted thorium can be quantitatively stripped with 1 M hydrochloric or nitric acid. The separation of protactinium from thorium is described. The mechanism of thorium extraction has been studied. The composition of the extractable thorium complexes depends on the HYTh concentration ratio and on the kind of mineral acid present in the aqueous phase. The solid complex ThCl₃Y·HY was isolated and its composition verified by chemical analysis.     

Conductance behavior of some tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complexes and their ion association in aqueous solutions

The conductance behavior of some tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complexes was studied in dilute aqueous solutions at 25°C to investigate the ion-pair formation. The thermodynamic formation constants of the ion pairs [Co(en)₃]³⁺·X^– are 28 (chloride), 28 (bromide), 19 (nitrate), and 15 (perchlorate). These values were compared with theoretical values calculated by using Bjerrum's theory of ion association. The formation constant of [Co(en)₃]³⁺·Cl^– was larger than that obtained from the spectrophotometric measurement in solutions containing perchlorate ion. This difference in the formation constants was explained by considering the contribution of ion association of the complex cation with perchlorate ion.     

An X-ray investigation on the structure of iron(III) perchlorate solutions

Ferric perchlorate solutions have been investigated by an X-ray scattering technique. The main features of the radial distribution functions are consistent with the presence of ClO₄⁻ ions and of hydrated Fe(H₂O)₆³⁺ complexes in octahedral configuration. Structural parameters have been derived for these two species from the outermost parts of the reduced intensity functions. An hydrogen bonded structure outside the inner coordination sphere of iron(III) is strongly suggested by the presence of a large peak at 4 Å in the radial distribution curves. In this respect a comparison between iron(III) perchlorate and nitrate solutions has made possible to evidentiate a similar structural arrangement for Fe³⁺ ions in both media. Some indications have been also obtained supporting the existence of an outer-sphere FeClO₄ complex and of hydration water around the perchlorate group.     

Structure of solvated metal ions in nitrate and chloride solutions of erbium(III) and yttrium(III) in dimethyl sulfoxide

X-ray diffraction measurements on 1M yttrium(III) and erbium(III) nitrate and chloride solutions in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have shown that Er(III) and Y(III) solutions of equal compositions are isostructural. The intensity difference functions can then be used to derive the detailed structure of the coordination sphere around the metal ions. The DMSO molecules are coordinated over oxygen with average M-O-S bond angles of about 130°. Two different conformations, corresponding to different relative orientations of the M-O and O-S bonds, seem to be prevalent. In the nitrate solutions an average of about 1.5 nitrate ions are coordinated as bidentate ligands to each metal ion. In the chloride solutions about 1.3 chloride ions belong to the inner-coordination sphere.On leave from the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Royal Institute of Technology, S-10044 Stockholm, Sweden     

Bis(2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-pyridine)copper(II): Effects of counteranions on the molecular and supramolecular structures

The synthesis and physical properties of bis(2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-pyridine)copper(II) with chloride, nitrate and perchlorate as counteranions have been described. Microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility, conductivity and various spectroscopic measurements have been used for the characterization of the complexes. The crystal structures of all three complexes have been determined. Intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions and the resulting self-assembly patterns for each of the species have been scrutinized. The chloride containing complex crystallizes as a trihydrate, where the metal ion is in a tetragonally elongated cis-N₄Cl₂ coordination sphere. This complex provides a three-dimensional honeycomb-like structure through N–H?Cl, O–H?Cl and O–H?O hydrogen bonds. In the nitrate containing species, one of the two counteranions coordinates to the metal centre to provide an irregular N₄O₂ coordination sphere, while the other counteranion, with the help of a lattice water molecule, assembles a ladder-like structure via N–H?O and bifurcated O–H?O,O hydrogen bonds. A one-dimensional polymeric species has been formed when perchlorate is the counteranion. Here one of the two perchlorates acts as a bridge between the metal centres that are in tetragonally elongated trans-N₄O₂ coordination spheres. This polymeric chain, together with the second perchlorate and a water molecule, form a ribbon-like structure due to N–H?O and O–H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Structure of the Aqua Ions and Fluoride Complexes of Uranium(IV) and Thorium(IV) in Aqueous Solution an EXAFS Study

The structures of aqueous M(4+)(aq) and MF(3+)(aq), where M is uranium(IV) or thorium(IV), have been determined by L(III) edge EXAFS using data from solutions of 1.5 M HClO(4) in which the M(IV) concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.3 M. A least-squares refinement of the data for the aqua ions indicated 10.8 +/- 0.5 water molecules in the first hydration sphere of both ions and M-O bond distances for U(IV) and Th(IV) of 2.42 +/- 0.01 and 2.45 +/- 0.01 ?, respectively. By considering both previous structure information and the EXAFS data, we selected N = 10 +/- 1 as the most likely coordination number of both M(IV) aqua ions. EXAFS measurements from acidic aqueous uranium(IV) and thorium(IV) solutions containing fluoride show that large changes in the first coordination sphere occur. The experimental data indicates an asymmetrical distribution of the distances, probably as a result of differing M-F and M-O bond lengths. These can be described by a model that contains two different bond distances, one M-F distance at 2.10 ? and one M-O distance at 2.45 ? for U(IV); for Th(IV), the corresponding distances are 2.14 and 2.48 ?. The total coordination number in this model is unchanged from the aqua ions, i.e., 10 +/- 1.     

The determination of the stability constants of uranyl and thorium with aminopolycarboxylic acids

The stability of uranyl and thorium ions with ligands N-(2′-carboxy phenyl) iminodiacetic acid (ADA), iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and [(ethylenedioxy)diethylenedinitrilo]tetraacetic acid (EGRA) have been studied using the potentiometric technique in 0.1M, KNO₃ solution at 25°C. The complexes of thorium (IV) ions with IDA and ADA are shown to be more stable than those for uranyl ions, while EGTA forms more stable complexes with uranyl ion.     

Solvent extraction of thorium(IV) with dibutyldithiophosphoric acid in various organic solvents

The extraction of thorium(IV) from perchlorate solutions with di-n-butyldithiophosphoric acid (HBudtp) in various organic solvents occurs through an ion exchange mechanism. The extracted species in the organic phase is an eight-coordinate complex Th(Budtp)₄. The higher values of the distribution ratio obtained in HBudtp-benzene-water system than in HBudtp-n-butanol-water system are explained by higher solubility of the complex species in nonpolar solvents. The position of the extraction curves in the pH-range lower than 0.7 reduces the complexation of thorium(IV) with Budtp^– in the aqueous phase and also the hydrolysis process.     

Coagulation of silver halide sols by thorium nitrate in the presence of potassium nitrate and potassium sulfate

Summary When silver iodide, silver bromide and silver chloride solsin statu nascendi are coagulated by thorium nitrate in the presence of potassium nitrate, three coagulation maxima appear. Two of them are identical with maxima that are found in absence of KNO₃, denoted with (II) and (IV) in fig. 1. The new maximum appears in the stability region of recharged sols (III). It is believed that this maximum is also—as maximum (IV)—caused by the coagulation of recharged silver halide sols by nitrate ions. Appearance of two nitrate coagulation maxima is explained by different charge densities on sol particles at various concentrations of Th(NO₃)₄ where they are formed. The new maximum indicates a lower charge density of sol particles. The possibility that the new maximum could have been caused by ionic complex species between thorium and nitrate ions has been rejected for data are available that the equilibrium constant for such complexes is small. In the presence of K₂SO₄ the coagulation effects of thorium nitrate on silver halide sols are markedly different. In acidified solutions only one coagulation maximum appears at rather high thorium nitrate concentrations [∼ 10⁻³ N Th (NO₃)₄] and the sol remains negatively charged [up to ∼ 10⁻² N Th (NO₃)₄] This is explained by complex formation of Th-ions and sulfate ions whereby ionic species of lower charge are formed, which exert a weaker coagulation effect. In neutral solutions another maximum at lower concentration of Th (NO₃)₄ is formed which appears to be the usual coagulation maximum produced by hydrolyzed thorium ions. The antagonistic effects of the salt pair Th (NO₃)₄-K₂SO₄ upon the coagulation of silver halides has been discussed and we have concluded that the large effects repeatedly reported can be explained not by simple electrostatic effects of ions in solution but rather by the formation of complexes between Th- and SO₄-ions.

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Zusammenfassung Die Koagulationseffekte des Thoriumnitrats in Anwesenheit von Kaliumnitrat und Kaliumsulfat an Silberhalogenid-Solenin statu nascendi wurden ausführlich untersucht. Wenn Silberhalogenid-Sole durch Thoriumnitrat-L?sungen koaguliert werden, bilden sich zwei Koagulationsmaxima (II und IV, Abb. 1). Bei sehr niedrigen Konzentrationen des Thoriumnitrats koaguliert das Thorium-Ion (oder Komplex) die negativen Silberhalogenid-Sole, w?hrend bei h?heren Thoriumnitrat-Konzentrationen die ungeladenen Sole durch die NitratIonen koaguliert werden. Zwischen den zwei Maxima besteht ein weites Gebiet der stabilen umgeladenen Sole (III). Unter dem Zusatz von konstanten Mengen des Kaliumnitrats wird in diesem Gebiet ein neues (drittes) Maximum gebildet (Abb. 2–5), das auch als Koagulationsmaximum identifiziert wurde. Es wird angenommen, da? dieses Maximum wieder eine Koagulation der umgeladenen Silberhalogenid-Sole durch Nitrat-Ionen darstellt. Das Auftreten von zwei Koagulationsmaxima, verursacht durch Nitrat-Ionen, wird durch die verschiedenen Ladungsdichten an Solteilchen in Gebieten der Thoriumnitrat-Konzentrationen, in denen Maxima erscheinen, erkl?rt. Die M?glichkeit eines Koagulationseffektes der komplexen Ionen zwischen Thorium und Nitrat wurde ausgeschlossen, da die Gleichgewichtskonstante solcher Komplexe ziemlich niedrig ist. In Anwesenheit von Kaliumsulfat sieht die Koagulationskurve für Silberhalogenid Sole sehr unterschiedlich aus (Abb. 6–8). In den mit Salpeters?ure (0,001N) versetzten Solen erscheint nur ein Maximum bei ziemlich hohen Thoriumnitrat-Konzentrationen [∼ 10⁻³ N Th (NO₃)₄], wobei die Solteilchen noch immer negativ sind. Da Thorium- und Sulfat-Ionen sehr stabile Ionen-Komplexe bilden, die eine niedrigere Valenz aufweisen, kann das Maximum als Folge der Koagulationseffekte solcher Komplexe an die Silberhalogenid-Sole angesehen werden. In neutralen L?sungen zeigt sich neben dem beschriebenen Maximum noch ein anderes Maximum bei niedrigerer Thoriumnitrat-Konzentration. Dieses Maximum, hervorgerufen durch die hydrolysierten Thorium-Ionen, scheint das „normale“ Koagulationsmaximum zu sein. Dieantagonistischen Effekte des Salzpaares Th (NO₃)₄-K₂SO₄ bei der Koagulation der Silberhalogenide wurden diskutiert, und es wurde geschlossen, da? die gro?en Effekte, die wiederholt ver?ffentlicht worden waren, sehr schwer nur durch die elektrostatischen Anziehungen zwischen den Ionen erkl?rt werden k?nnen. Die Komplexbildung zwischen Thorium- und Sulfat-Ionen wird für den sogenannten antagonistischen Effekt in diesem Falle als verantwortlich angesehen.

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Supported in part by U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract No. AT (30-1)-1801.     

Thorium removal from aqueous solutions of Mexican erionite and X zeolite

Thorium(IV) removal from aqueous solutions by erionite and X zeolite was investigated. The Th(IV) uptake at different thorium nitrate concentrations (from 0.25 to 25 mM) was evaluated. The thorium content in the aqueous solution was determined by neutron activation analysis. Th(IV) retained by zeolites was 1.7 and 3.7 meq/g for erionite and X zeolite. In order to explain the thorium sorption process in both zeolites, ion exchange mechanism was considered. It was found that thorium sorption behavior is strongly dependent of the type of zeolite, the separation factor for Mexican erionite was α^Th(IV) _Na(I)<1, this zeolite shows preference for Na(I) rather than for Th(IV), however, by X zeolite, α^Th(IV) _Na(I)~1, this value suggested an approximately ideal ion exchange behavior. The effect of pH on thorium sorption was also considered. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stereochemistry of thorium in oxygen-containing compounds

Voronoi–Dirichlet (VD) polyhedra and the method of intersecting spheres have been used to perform analysis of coordination of 198 types of crystallographically different Th(IV) atoms in the crystal structures of oxygen-containing compounds characterized with R ≤ 0.05. The volumes of VD polyhedra have been determined for the thorium atoms forming ThO_n complexes in which the Th–O bond lengths (2.14–2.91 Å) are roughly independent of the CN (n), varying from 4 to 12. It has been found that the phase transition of thorianite ThO₂ at elevated pressure is accompanied by a considerable distortion of the thorium VD polyhedra because of the appearance of faces corresponding to Th–Th contacts in which the interatomic distances are shorter than in thorium metal. It has been demonstrated that the baric phase transitions in thorium metal and thorianite are accompanied by similar changes in characteristics of Th VD polyhedra, which are tentatively believed to be a result of appearance of bonding 5f interactions between thorium atoms.     

Structure determination of zinc iodide complexes formed in aqueous solution

Structures of the complexes formed in aqueous solutions between zinc(II) and iodide ions have been determined from large-angle X-ray scattering, Raman and far-IR measurements. The coordination in the hydrated Zn²⁺ hexaaqua ion and the first iodide complex, [ZnI]⁺, is octahedral, but is changed into tetrahedral in the higher complexes, [ZnI₂(H₂O)₂], [ZnI₃(H₂O)]^– and [ZnI₄]^2–. The Zn-I bond length is 2.635(4)Å in the [ZnI₄]^2– ion and slightly shorter, 2.592(6)Å, in the two lower tetrahedral complexes. In the octahedral [ZnI(H₂O)₅]⁺ complex the Zn-I bond length is 2.90(1)Å. The Zn-O bonding distances in the complexes are approximately the same as that in the hydrated Zn²⁺ ion, 2.10(1)Å.     

Extraction properties of octaethyltetraamidopyrophosphate (OETAPP)

The extraction of thorium and hafnium was studied in the system of 0.1M OETAPP in CHCl₃/HCl or HNO₃ at acid concentrations of 1–10 M. It has been found by the dilution method that under the experimental conditions mono- and disolvates of thorium nitrate or hafnium chloride, the disolvate of thorium chloride or the monosolvate of hafnium nitrate are formed. The solvation and hydration energies of thorium chloride in the system of 1M ThCl₄ in 1M HCl−1M OETAPP in CHCl₃ as well as their difference were calculated.     

Geometric parameters of molecular structures of macrotricyclic chelates in MII ion—hydrazinomethane thioamide—butane-2,3-dione ternary systems (M = Co, Ni, Cu) according to the DFT B3LYP quantum chemical calculation

The geometric parameters of the macrotricyclic Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II, and Zn^II chelates with (NSSN) coordination of the donor centers of the ligand, which are formed by complex formation between the metal ions, hydrazinomethane thioamide H₂N-HN-C(=S)-NH₂, and butane-2,3-dione Me-C(=O)-C(=O)-Me in aqueous solutions and gelatin-immobilized matrix implants, were calculated using the DFT B3LYP hybrid method in the 6-31G(d) standard basis set and the Gaussian03 program. The bond lengths, bond and torsion angles in the coordination compounds are presented. All the complexes are nearly planar.     

Intradiffusion coefficients for perchlorate ions in zinc perchlorate and zinc chloride solutions at 25°C: Comparing transport properties of zinc chloride and zinc perchlorate systems

Intradiffusion coefficients for³⁶ClO ₄ ^– have been measured in solutions of zinc perchlorate of concentration 0.1 to 3 mol dm^–3 at 25°C by the diaphragm cell technique. In addition, intradiffusion coefficients for perchlorate ions in zinc chloride solutions have been measured over a concentration range at 25°C. The results confirm previous work on the effect of complexation on diffusion in zinc chloride solutions above a salt concentration of 0.1M. The present data, together with literature data for diffusion coefficients of the other species present in the zinc perchlorate electrolyte system, have enabled a simple analysis of the hydration around the zinc ions to be carried out. This indicates that the water diffusion data are consistent with the zinc ions having an effective hydration sphere of 11 (±2) water molecules. This is in keeping with values obtained for other simple divalent electrolytes using the same model. The model is extended here to allow analysis of water diffusion in zinc chloride solutions taking into account the presence of complexed chloro-zinc species. The experimental data are consistent with the effective hydration of the chloro-zinc complexes being independent of the number of chloride ligands and equal to 18±3 over a concentration range of 0 tol mol-dm^–3. This postulate is discussed in terms of its consequences on the water ligand dynamics for the complex equilibria.     

Substitution reactions of thorium(IV) acetate to synthesize nano-sized carboxylate complexes

Some mixed-ligand thorium(IV) complexes with the general formula [Th(OOCCH₃)_4?nL_n] (L = anions of myristic, palmitic or stearic acid and n = 1–4) have been synthesized by the stepwise substitution of acetate ions of thorium(IV) acetate with straight chain carboxylic acids in toluene under reflux. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, spectral (electronic, infrared, NMR and powder XRD) studies, electrical conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Doubly and triply bridged coordination modes of the ligands were established by their infrared spectra and nano-size of the complexes by powder XRD. Room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed diamagnetic nature of the complexes. Electronic absorption spectra of the complexes showed π → π*, n → π* and charge transfer transitions. Molar conductance values indicated the complex to be non-electrolytes. These are a new type of mixed-ligand thorium(IV) complexes for which a nano-sized, oxygen bridged polymeric structure has been established on the basis of physico-chemical studies.     

Complexation Equilibria of Indium in Aqueous Chloride,Sulfate and Nitrate Solutions: An Electrochemical Investigation

Electrochemical methods have been used to determine the speciation and stability constants of various aqueous indium complexes. Qualitative behavior is observed using UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Equilibrium constants are determined using differential pulse voltammetry. In a titration where the titrant and sample contain equal concentrations of acid and In³⁺ ions and equivalent concentrations of ligand and supporting electrolyte anions, respectively, small changes in ligand concentration can be made quickly and accurately while maintaining the overall ionic strength. From the change in the half-wave reduction potential as a function of ligand concentration, the coordination number and the stability constants of sulfate, chloride and nitrate complexes were determined. We also highlight the difficulties finding a supporting electrolyte that does not interact with the In³⁺ ion. On the one hand, it was not possible to prevent the slow formation of chloride in perchlorate electrolytes containing indium. On the other hand, we show that, at concentrations of nitrate anions commonly used in such experiments, nitrate complexes form. In the light of these new findings, previously published stability constants of indium using nitrate-based supporting electrolytes should be used cautiously.