Redox determination of uranium in presence of plutonium in low phosphoric acid medium and the recovery of plutonium

Quantitative determination of uranium in (U, Pu)O₂ fuels is usually done by the DAVIES-GRAY method. High concentrations of phosphoric acid in the analytical waste generated by this method make the revocery of plutonium rather complex. Studies on the recovery of plutonium from nitric acid medium containing different concentrations of H₃PO₄ by conventional anion-exchange procedure reveal that more than 90% of the plutonium can be easily recovered when the phosphoric acid concentration is less than 0.5 M in the solution. A method was developed for the determination of uranium in the presence of plutonium, which involves the reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) by Fe(II) in a medium of 3.5M H₃PO₄ +4.5M H₂SO₄ instead of 10–11M H₃PO₄ so as to have the H₃PO₄ concentration 0.6M in the waste. A number of determinations of uranium in UO₂(NO₃)₂ working standard solutions and (U, Pu) synthetic solutions with uranium at the 3–7 mg level were carried out by this method. The precision obtained was better than ±0.2% and the accuracy was also within the precision limits. The resulting analytical waste generated was directly subjected to anion exchange separation for the recovery of plutonium which was found to be more than 90%.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Catalytic Reduction of U(VI) with Hydrazine on Platinum Catalysts in Nitric Acid Media

The kinetics of U(IV) produced by hydrazine reduction of U(VI) with platinum as a catalyst in nitric acid media was studied to reveal the reaction mechanism and optimize the reaction process. Electron spin resonance (ESR) was used to determine the influence of nitric acid oxidation. The effects of nitric acid, hydrazine, U(VI) concentration, catalyst dosage and temperature on the reaction rate were also studied. In addition, the simulation of the reaction process was performed using density functional theory. The results show that the influence of oxidation on the main reaction is limited when the concentration of nitric acid is below 0.5 mol/L. The reaction kinetics equation below the concentration of 0.5 mol/L is found as: -dc(UO₂²⁺)/dt)=kc^0.5323(UO₂²⁺)c^0.2074(N₂H₅⁺)c^-0.2009(H⁺). When the temperature is 50 ℃, and the solid/liquid ratio r is 0.0667 g/mL, the reaction kinetics constant is k=0.00199 (mol/L)^0.4712/min. Between 20 ℃ and 80 ℃, the reaction rate gradually increases with the increase of temperature, and changes from chemically controlled to diffusion-controlled. The simulations of density functional theory give further insight into the influence of various factors on the reaction process, with which the reaction mechanisms are determined according to the reaction kinetics and the simulation results.     

Separation studies of uranium and thorium using tetra(2-ethylhexyl) diglycolamide (TEHDGA) as an extractant

The extraction behavior of uranium, thorium and nitric acid has been investigated for the TEHDGA/isodecyl alcohol/n-dodecane solvent system. Conditional acid uptake constant (K _H) of TEHDGA/n-dodecane and the ratio of TEHDGA to nitric acid were obtained as 1.72 and 1:0.96, respectively. The extracted species of uranium and thorium in the organic phase were found to be UO₂(NO₃)₂·2TEHDGA and Th(NO₃)₄·2TEHDGA. A workable separation factor (D _Th/D _U) of the order of 300 was observed between thorium and uranium in the nitric acid range of 0.5M to 1.5M. Similar separation factor was also achieved at higher acidity when thorium was present in large concentration compared to uranium. These results indicate that TEHDGA solvent system could be a potential candidate for separation of thorium from uranium.     

Study on the synergic extraction of uranium(VI) with petroleum sulfoxides (PSO) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) mixture

The synergic extraction of uranium(VI) from nitric acid solution with petroleum sulfoxides (PSO) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) mixture has been studied. It has been found that maximum synergic extraction effect occurs if the molar ratio of PSO to TBP is two to three. The composition of the complex of synergic extraction is UO₂(NO₃)₂·TBP·PSO. The formation constant of the complex isK _PT=8.19. The effect of extractant concentration, nitric acid concentration, salting-out agent concentration and temperature on the extraction equilibrium of uranium(VI) was also studied.     

Studies on the solvent extraction behaviour of Pu(IV) from sulfuric acid medium into di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP)

Extraction of plutonium(IV) from aqueous sulfuric and sulfuric-nitric acid into di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HY) in the diluents n-dodecane, toluene or chloroform has been investigated. The composition of the Pu(IV) species extracted from H₂SO₄ was found to be PuH₂Y₆, which changed to Pu(NO₃)H₂Y₅ and Pu(NO₃)₂H₂Y₄ with increasing concentration of nitrate ion in the aqueous medium. These three species can be represented as PuY₂(HY₂)₂, Pu(NO₃)Y(HY₂)₂ and Pu(NO₃)₂(HY₂)₂, respectively, where Y represents the anion of monomeric HY, and HY₂ the anion of dimeric H₂Y₂. Synergism in the extraction of Pu(IV) by the addition of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) to HY was also investigated and attributed to extraction of the additional species, Pu(TTA)Y(HY₂)₂ and Pu(TTA)₂(HY₂)₂. The addition of the neutral extractant tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) to HY did not result in synergism in the extraction of Pu(IV) from aqueous sulfuric acid. With aqueous nitric acid under similar conditions, however, synergism was observed. The possible equilibria in these systems were identified and the corresponding equilibrium constants were determined.     

Precipitation of plutonium oxalate from homogeneous solutions

A method for the precipitation of plutonium(IV) oxalate from homogeneous solutions using diethyl oxalate is reported. The precipitate obtained is crystalline and easily filterable with yields in the range of 92–98% for precipitations involving a few mg to g quantities of plutonium. Decontamination factors for common impurities such as U(VI), Am(III) and Fe(III) were determined. TGA and chemical analysis of the compound indicate its composition as Pu(C₂O₄)₂·6H₂O. Data are obtained on the solubility of the oxalate in nitric acid and in mixtures of nitric acid and oxalic acid of varying concentrations. Green PuO₂ obtained by calcination of the oxalate has specifications within the recommended values for trace foreign substances such as chlorine, fluorine, carbon and nitrogen.     

Distribution of Pu(VI) from nitric acid to tri-n-butyl phosphate saturated with uranium(VI)

Solvent extraction of plutonium(VI) from nitric acid (1 to 5M) into 20% and 30% TBP in dodecane saturated with uranium(VI) (0% to 80%) has been studied. For a particular nitric acid concentration, the distribution coefficient (K _d ) is found to decrease with the increase in saturation of organic phase with uranium(VI). At a fixed organic phase the saturationK _d increased with increase in nitric acid concentration, however, the magnitude of this increase inK _d decreased with the increase in saturation.     

Relaxation spectra of concentrated polystyrene solutions

The relaxation modulus G(t) and the stress decay after cessation of steady shear flow were measured on concentrated solutions of polystyrenes in diethyl phthalate. Ranges of concentration c and molecular weight M of the polymer were from 0.112 to 0.329 g/ml and from 1.23 × 10⁶ to 7.62 × 10⁶, respectively. The relaxation spectrum H(τ) as calculated from G(t) for the solution of very high M was found to be composed of two parts. One, at relatively short times, was a broad distribution (plateau zone) with height proportional to c². The second, at the long-time end, was very sensitive to concentration and gave rise to a maximum in H(τ) for very high concentrations. The behavior of H(τ) at long times was examined quantitatively by evaluating the longest relaxation time τ₁⁰ and the corresponding relaxation strength G₁⁰ from G(t) and from the stress decay function, on the assumption of a discrete distribution of relaxation times at long times. The longest relaxation time was approximately proportional to M^3.5, even at relatively low concentrations where the zero-shear viscosity was not proportional to M^3.5. The strengths of relaxation modes with the longest few relaxation times are proportional to the third power of concentration.     

Kinetics of reaction between acetic acid and Ag2+ in nitric acid medium

The reaction kinetics between acetic acid and Ag²⁺ in nitric acid medium is studied by spectrophotometry. The effects of concentrations of acetic acid (HAc), H⁺, NO^?₃, and temperature on the reaction are investigated. The rate equation has been determined to be –dc(Ag²⁺)/dt = kc(Ag²⁺)c(HAc)c^?1(H⁺), where k = (610 ± 15) (mol/L)^?1 min^?1 with an activation energy of about (48. 8 ± 3.5) kJ mol^?1 when the reaction temperature is 25°C and the ionic strength is 4.0 mol L^?1. The reduction rate of Ag²⁺ increases with the increase in HAc concentration and/or temperature and the decrease in HNO₃ concentration. However, the effect of NO^?₃ concentrations within 0.5–2.5 mol L^?1 on the reaction rate is negligible. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 47–51, 2013     

Radiation effects of paraffins as polymer model compounds—I. Evolved gas analysis

Radiation yields of gases from n-paraffins of n-C₂₀H₄₂ to n-C₂₄H₅₀ and squalane (C₃₀H₆₂), as polymer model compounds, in the liquid and solid phases were analyzed by gas chromatography. G(H₂) in the liquid phase was 3.2–3.3 for all samples and found to be almost independent of the chemical structure and molecular weight; G(H₂) in the crystalline state of n-paraffins was 2.2–2.5 at -77 to 25°C. G(CH₄) was about 1% of G(H₂) for n-paraffins and increased with the methyl content of the branched chain for squalane. G(C₂H₆) in the liquid phase was about 0.05 for n-paraffins, but G(C₂H₆) in the crystalline state was found to depend on the crystal structure; that is, nearly zero for triclinic of an even number of carbons and about 0.02 for orthorhombic of an odd number. C₃H₈ and C₂H₄(C₃H₆ in squalane) were observed only in the liquid phase of n-paraffins and in glass and the liquid phase of squalane; G(C₃H₈) = 0.03–0.05 and G(C₂H₄ or C₃H₆) = 0.01–0.03. But the C₄-compounds were not detected in any phase of any of the samples.Chain scission by radiation is supposed to proceed mainly at chain end carbons until the third carbon in the liquid phase of n-paraffins, only at the chain end carbon of the crystalline surface in triclinic crystals and at chain end carbons until the second carbon in orthorhombic crystals. These chain scission phenomena in the liquid phase and crystalline state of n-paraffins and in the liquid phase of squalane would be analogous to those in the amorphous and crystalline states of polyethylene, and in amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer, respectively.     

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.     

Distribution and identification of Plutonium(IV) species in tri-n-butyl phosphate/HNO3 extraction system containing acetohydroxamic acid

There was a significant research progress achieved with the aim to modify conventional PUREX process by stripping of plutonium from the tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) extraction product in the form of non-extractable complexes upon addition of back-hold complexation agents. The present paper reports effects of such salt-free complexant, acetohydroxamic acid (HAHA), on distribution ratio of Pu(IV) under wide concentration of nitric acid and additional nitrate. General formula of plutonium species present in the organic phase can be described as Pu(OH)_x(AHA)_y(NO3)_4−x−y·2TBP·wHNO₃.     

Effect of method of ion preparation on low-energy collision-induced dissociation mass spectra

The collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra of protonated cocaine and protonated heroin have been measured using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer at 50 eV ion/neutral collision energy for protonated molecules prepared by different protonating agents. The CID mass spectra of protonated cocaine using H⁺(H₂O)_n, H⁺(NH₃)_n and H⁺((CH₃)₂NH)_n as protonating agents are essentially identical and it is concluded that, regardless of the initial site of protonation, the fragmentation reactions occurring on collisional activation are identical. By contrast, protonated heorin prepared with H⁺(H₂O)_n and H⁺(NH₃)_n as protonating agents show substantial differences. That formed by reaction of H⁺(H₂O)_n shows a much more abundant peak corresponding to loss of CH₃CO₂H. From a comparison with model compounds, and from a consideration of the three-dimensional structure of heroin, it is concluded that with H⁺(H₂O)_n as protonating agent significant protonation occurs at the acetate group attached to the alicyclic ring, leading to acetic acid loss on collisional activation, but that reaction of H⁺(NH₃)_n leads to protonation at the nitrogen function. The proton attached to nitrogen cannot interact with the acetate group and, consequently, the probability of loss of acetic acid on collislional activation is greatly reduced.     

Kinetics of the reduction of plutonium(IV) by hydroxyurea, a novel salt-free agent

The kinetics of the reduction of plutonium(IV) by hydroxyurea (HU), a novel salt free reductant, in nitric acid solutions has been studied. The observed reaction rate can be expressed as: -d[Pu(IV)]/dt=k ₀[Pu(IV)]²[HU]/[H⁺]^0.9, where k ₀ = 5853±363 (l^1.1.mol^-1.1.s^-1) at t = 13 °C. The activation energy is about 81.2 kJ/mol. The study also shows that uranium(VI) has no appreciable influence on the reaction rate. Compared with other organic reductants our experiments indicate that HU is a very fast reductant for plutonium(IV). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermodynamic denaturation of β-lactoglobulin in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride

In this work, we determined the stability parameters of bovine β-lactoglobulin, variant A, (BLG-A), in relation to their transition curves induced by cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a cationic surfactant. The experiments took place over the temperature range of 298 K to 358 K. For each transition curve at any specific temperature, the conventional method of analysis, which assumes a linear concentration dependence of the pre- and post-transition base lines, gave the most realistic values for ΔG_D(H₂O). Results show that the minimum value of ΔG_D(H₂O) occurs at T = 328 K. Using the Gibbs–Helmholtz equation, the values of enthalpy, ΔH_D, and entropy, ΔS_D, of denaturation have been calculated considering temperature dependence of ΔG_D at any specified concentration of CPC. The values of 12.05 kJ · mol⁻¹, 18.54 kJ · mol⁻¹, and 18.32 J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹, were obtained for ΔG_D(H₂O), ΔH_D(H₂O), and ΔS_D(H₂O), respectively. The results show that the enthalpy term dominates the entropy term.     

Radiolysis of poly(acetaldehyde-co-chloral): A positive E-beam resist

Acetaldehyde and chloral were copolymerized using triethyl aluminum catalyst. The copolymer (ACC) obtained with equimolar monomer feed is not alternating in structure as it was once thought to be; it is comprised of two fractions differing in MW and composition. ACC has good thermal stability which is further improved by endcapping. Radiolysis in vacuo caused depolymerization with a G(M) value (number of monomers produced per 100 eV) of about 4000 to 80% completion. The G(S) value for chain scission is 1.9. These processes are effectively inhibited by benzoquinone. Oxygen markedly increases G(M) to ca. 18,000 and > 97% completion. Addition of tetrabutyl ammonium salt or tetramethyl urea has no effect on the depolymerization, whereas the addition of di-t-butyl-p-cresol causes an induction period after which normal unzipping ensues. Even UV photolysis of ACC in the presence of oxygen produces monomer with a quantum yield of 1.7, but very little photolysis occurs in the absence of oxygen. Gamma radiolysis sensitized by (C₆H₅)₂IPF₆ has G(M) value of 32,700. These results are very similar to the radiolysis and photolysis of the homopolymer of monochloroacetaldehyde and reinforce the mechanisms proposed for them. The E-beam sensitivity of ACC is about 3 × 10^?6 C cm^?2.     

Ions in Aqueous Acetic Acid Mixtures: Solvent Reorganization around Protons and Gibbs Energies of Transfer from Water

The photo-absorbing, basic sensor, 4-nitroaniline, has been used to determine theequilibrium constant for solvent reorganization around the proton in mixtures ofvarying composition of water with acetic acid. In all the mixtures used, theself-ionization of the acetic acid was suppressed. In contrast to mixtures of waterwith the related ethanol or acetone, this equilibrium is shifted more toward thewater-solvated species as the mole fraction x ₂ of the cosolvent increases. TheGibbs energy of transfer of protons from water into the mixture G ^o _t (H⁺) can bederived with the aid of this equilibrium constant for the solvent reorganization.Using G ^o _t (H⁺), G ^o _t (i) for i denoting anions and other cations can be evaluated.In comparison the G ^o _t (i) for cations have lower negative values than when eitherethanol or acetone is added to water. Correspondingly, for halide anions, thepositive G ^o _t (i) with added acetic acid are rather less than is found with eitherethanol or acetone added. The influence on the ion-solvent interaction of bothelectron withdrawing hydroxy and carbonyl groups in acetic acid may beresponsible for this. Although G ^o _t (i) for C10^– ₄ and Re0^– ₄ are also positive, both picrateions and OH^– give negative values with acetic acid added to water. With picrateions, the hydrophobic effect of the carbon ring produces stabilization in themixture relative to water. With OH^–, complete conversion to acetate anionsoccurs. As is found with other cosolvents, the contribution of the charge onacetate anion to G ^o _t (CH₃COO^–) is found to increase as x ₂ rises. The aciddissociation constant K _a for acetic acid is found to decrease slowly as x ₂ rises to0.5, followed by a rapid decrease for x ₂ greater than 0.7 where dimerization ofacetic acid occurs.     

Activity Coefficients of Uranyl Nitrate and Nitric Acid in Aqueous Mixtures

The activity coefficients of nitric acid and uranyl nitrate in in aqueous mixtures are necessary to model the system H₂O-HNO₃-UO₂(NO₃)₂-TBP-diluent. Three methods have been compared in this work to determine activity coefficients based on experimental data, Pitzer's equation or Zdanovskiy's rule. Acid activities have been calculated from the data of two first methods. These results were compared with the data of third method. Errors were about 3.3.%. Activity coefficients of uranyl nitrate γ_U as a function of concentration of uranyl nitrate and nitric acid were determined in 76 mixed solutions. The equation to calculate γ_U was proposed.     

Extraction behavior of U(IV) from nitric acid medium using di-isodecyl phosphoric acid dissolved in dodecane

Solvent extraction of U(VI) with di-isodecyl phosphoric acid (DIDPA)/dodecane from nitric acid medium has been investigated for a wide range of experimental conditions. Effect of various parameters including nitric acid concentration, DIDPA concentration, temperature, stripping agents, and other impurities like rear earths, transition metal ion, boron, aluminum ion on U(VI) extraction has been studied. The species extracted in the organic phase is found to be UO₂(NO₃)(HA₂)·H₂A₂ at lower acidity (<3.0 M HNO₃). Increase in temperature lead to the decrease in extraction with the enthalpy change by ∆H = −16.27 kJ/mol. Enhancement in extraction of U(VI) from nitric acid medium was observed with the mixture of DIDPA and tri butyl phosphate (TBP). The stripping of U(VI) from organic phase (DIDPA–U(VI)/dodecane) with various reagents followed the order: 4 M H₂SO₄ > 5% (NH₄)₂CO₃ > 8 M HCl > 8 M HNO₃ > Water. High separation factors between U(VI) and impurities suggested that the use of DIDPA for purification of uranium from multi elements bearing solution.     

Etude thermodynamique de la décomposition thermique des hydroxynitrates de zinc

The reaction scheme of thermal decomposition for four zinc hydroxynitrates was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, mass spectrometry, and radiocrystallography. The thermal transformation of Zn(OH)(NO₃) · H₂O and of Zn₃(OH)₄(NO₃)₂ involves the formation of gaseous water and nitric acid from an actual chemical reaction. This reaction is not observed for Zn₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O and Zn₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂. These results show that the formation of gaseous nitric acid molecules inside the solids is specific to hydroxynitrates of divalent metals M, whose lamellar crystalline structure is characterized by a stacking of hexagonal close-packed layers of formula MX_2+m, where m = 0 or 1 and X = OH^?, H₂O, or NO^?₃.