Modelling spur chemistry for alkaline and acidic water at high temperatures

The effect of pH and associated ionic strength on the primary yields in the radiolysis of pressurised water has been assessed by diffusion-kinetic calculations for temperatures in the range 100–300°C. Account has been taken for ionic strength I up to 0.1 mol kg⁻¹, assuming that the counter ions of H⁺ in acid solutions and of OH⁻ in base solutions have unit charge. In acid solutions, the H⁺ ions react with e⁻ _aq. The decrease in G(e⁻ _aq) and the increase in G(H) with decreasing pH becomes substantial for [H⁺] ≥ 1 × 10⁻⁴ m, but the primary yields of oxidising species are almost constant. In alkaline solutions, the OH⁻ anions affect the spur chemistry of radiation-generated protons and hydroxyl radicals for [OH⁻] ≥ 1 × 10⁻⁴ m. The scavenging of H atoms and hydrogen peroxide becomes significant for [OH⁻] ≥ 1 × 10⁻² m. The total yields G(OH) + G(O⁻) and G(H₂O₂) + G(HO₂ ⁻) are independent of base concentration below 0.01 m. In more alkaline solutions, G(OH) + G(O⁻) increases, whereas G(H₂O₂) + G(HO₂ ⁻) decreases with increasing [OH⁻]. Calculations showed the substantial yield of the reaction O⁻ + e⁻ _aq in 0.1 m base solution. Spur chemistry in alkaline hydrogenated water is not affected by the presence of H₂ if less than 0.001 m of hydrogen is added.     

Equilibrium constants for the formation of Cu(I) halide complexes

The stoichiometric equilibrium constants, K ₃ ^* , for the formation of CuX ₃ ²⁻ from CuX ₂ ⁻ +X⁻ where X=Cl and Br, have been determined from spectral measurements. The measurements were made in NaCl and NaBr solutions from I=0.5 to 6.0m at 5, 25 and 45°C. The measured constants were extrapolated to infinite dilution using the Pitzer equations. The Pitzer parameters, β⁰, β¹ and C^φ, for the interaction of Na⁺ with CuX ₂ ⁻ and CuX ₃ ²⁻ are briefly discussed.     

Pulse radiolysis study of I− oxidation with radical anions Cl2 ⋅− in an aqueous solution

Radiation-chemical transformations of chloride solutions in the presence of iodide additives were studied by pulse radiolysis. Radical anion Cl₂ ^⋅− oxidize I⁻ ion, while in the secondary reactions Cl₂ reacts with I⁻ to form a mixed trihalide ion ICl₂ ⁻. A reaction model that satisfactorily describes the experimental data was proposed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1336–1340, June, 2005.     

A study of the hydrolysis of ZrF<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> and the structure of intermediate hydrolysis products by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F and <Superscript>91</Superscript>Zr NMR in the 9.4 T field

The high-field ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR method is used to study the hydrolysis and polycondensation of hexafluorozirconate ZrF₆²⁻ in aqueous and water-peroxide solutions. During hydrolysis in aqueous solutions only ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ ions were observed by NMR, however, in the water-peroxide medium, an intermediate product of hydrolysis ([F₅Zr-OO-ZrF₅]⁴⁻ dimer) was detected. The dimer structure is confirmed by ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR. In high fields (¹⁹F NMR frequency > 200 MHz), the fluorine exchange between ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ is slow in the ¹⁹F NMR scale and has a multisite character.     

Some applications of positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to complex formation and ion association studies

The rate constants for the reactions of positronium with halogen molecules and with halide ions in methanol (I₂, Br₂, Cl⁻, Br⁻) and in dimethylsulphoxide (I₂, Cl⁻) have been measured. The variations of the ortho-positronium lifetime in mixtures of these solutes have been used for quantitative determination of the formation constants of the corresponding polyhalides. These were found to be 2.9 and 5.4 M⁻¹, respectively, for I₂Cl⁻ and I₂Br⁻ in methanol and 2.0 M⁻¹ for I₂Cl⁻ in dimethylsulphoxide. Experiments on acidified AgClO₄ solutions confirmed the formation, at molar concentrations, of the Ag₂ ClO ₄ ⁺ species, very probably a triplet ion association.     

The Structure of Gallium in Strongly Alkaline,Highly Concentrated Gallate Solutions—a Raman and <Superscript>71</Superscript>Ga-NMR Spectroscopic Study

Highly concentrated alkaline gallate solutions with 0.23≤[Ga(III)]_T≤2.32 mol⋅dm⁻³ and 1≤[NaOH]_T≤15 mol⋅dm⁻³ have been prepared and investigated by Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR spectroscopy. Both the Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR spectra are consistent with the presence of only one Ga-bearing species in these solutions, the tetrahedral hydroxocomplex, Ga(OH)₄⁻. Contact ion pairs were found to cause variations in the Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR parameters that are at the edge of detectability. Other species that have been claimed to exist in the literature, like higher hydroxo complexes (i.e., Ga(OH)₆³⁻) or the μ-oxo-bridged dimer (i.e., (OH)₃Ga-O-(OH)₃²⁻), were not detected by these spectroscopic techniques. If such solution species exist at all, their concentrations are below the detection limit of Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR spectroscopy. The behavior of gallium appears to be very similar to that of aluminium under identical conditions, except that the dimeric species detected in aluminate solutions is undetectable in analogous gallates.     

XRD and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance analysis of CeO2-ZrO2 solid solutions synthesized by combustion method

A series of ceria-incorporated zirconia (Ce_1−xZr_xO₂,x = 0 to 1) solid solutions were prepared by employing the solution combustion synthesis route. The products were characterized by XRD and UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The materials are crystalline in nature and the lattice parameters of the solid solution series follow Vegard’s law. Diffuse reflectance spectra of the solid solutions in the UV region show two intense bands at 250 and 297 nm which are assigned respectively to Ce³⁺ ← O²⁻and Ce⁴⁺ ← O²⁻ charge transfer transitions. The two vibrational bands in 6960 cm⁻¹ and 5168 cm⁻¹ in the NIR region indicate the presence of surface hydroxyl groups on these materials.     

Ion-specific swelling behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) gel prepared by γ-ray irradiation

Poly(vinyl alcohol) gel was prepared by γ-ray irradiation of an aqueous solution of the polymer and its swelling behavior in solutions of the alkali-metal and alkaline-earth-metal salts was investigated. The gel deswelled in solutions containing strongly hydrated anions and swelled in solutions containing strongly hydrated cations. The degree of swelling of the gel was in the following order: SO₄ ²⁻<Cl⁻<Br⁻ ≅ NO₃ ⁻<I⁻ for the anions and K⁺<Na⁺<Li⁺ and Sr²⁺<Ca²⁺<Mg²⁺ for the cations. These results were interpreted in terms of interactions between the polymer and the ions through the hydration layers. Received: 6 November 2000 Accepted: 24 May 2001     

Behavior of cadmium(II) in irradiated aqueous solutions

Behavior of cadmium(II) in aqueous solutions irradiated by accelerated electrons was studied. A concentration of 8.8 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ of cadmium dissolved from Cd(NO₃)₂ requires dose of 15 kGy to be effectively removed from the system containing 1 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ of HCOOK as a scavenger of OH radicals. The positive effect of deaeration with N₂O or N₂ was observed in the range of lower doses. The addition of solid modifiers (bentonite, active carbon, zeolite, Cu₂O, NiO, TiO₂ and CuO) reduced the effectivity of radiation removal of cadmium. Product of irradiation is CdCO₃. On the contrary, in the system with cadmium dissolved from CdCl₂ radiation reduction takes place. Systems contained organic complexants (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid–EDTA, citric acid) were also studied. The solutions of Cd(NO₃)₂ containing initial concentration 2.37 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ of Cd^II were mixed with 3 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ EDTA. In this system the efficient degradation proceeds up to 90% at a dose of 45 kGy with addition of 5 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ carbonate (pH 10.5). The product of irradiation is CdCO₃. The presence of 1 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ of HCOOK in the solution is necessary for radiation removal of cadmium complexed with citric acid (1 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹) at pH 8. With increasing concentration of HCOOK (up to 5 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹) decreases the pH value necessary for the radiation induced precipitation of cadmium. The best result was obtained in the system containing zeolite as a solid modifier.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic sorption study of radiocobalt by magnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

A novel composite adsorbent, magnetite/hydroxyapatite (Fe₃O₄/HAP) composites, was prepared by biowaste chicken eggshell for the purpose of removing radiocobalt from aqueous solutions. It highlighted that more than 92% Co(II) could be removed by using the developed composites under the experimental conditions. The maximum sorption capacity of Co(II) on Fe₃O₄/HAP composites was 6.9 × 10⁻⁴ mol/g. The coexisted foreign ions, e.g., ClO₄ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻, Na⁺ and K⁺, did not interfere the elimination of Co(II) from aqueous solutions, while Mg²⁺ did. The sorption process was found to be controlled well by pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models, and the equilibrium data were simulated by Langmuir model very well with high correlation coefficients. The thermodynamic parameters confirmed the spontaneity and endothermic nature of Co(II) sorption processes. After sorption, the Fe₃O₄/HAP composites could be effectively and fleetly separated from aqueous solutions by magnetic separation technique in large scale. The Fe₃O₄/HAP composites are suitable materials in the preconcentration of Co(II) from large volumes of aqueous solutions.     

Oxygen ionic transport in Bi2O3-based oxides: The solid solutions Bi2O3–Nb2O5

The minimum concentration of niobium to stabilize the fluorite-type f.c.c. phase in the Bi₂O₃–Nb₂O₅ oxide system at temperatures below 996 K was ascertained to be about 10 mol%. Thermal expansion, electrical conductivity and crystal lattice parameters of the Bi(Nb)O_1.5+δ solid solutions decrease with increasing niobium content. Thermal expansion coefficients were calculated from the dilatometric data to be (10.314.5)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at temperatures in the range 300–700 K and (17.526.0)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 700–1100 K. The conductivity of the Bi_{1− x} Nb _x O_1.5+δ ceramics is predominantly ionic. The p-type electronic transference numbers of the Bi(Nb)O_1.5+δ solid solutions in air were determined to be less than 0.1. Annealing at temperatures below 900 K results in a sharp decrease in conductivity of the Bi_{1− x} Nb _x O_1.5+δ ceramics. Received: 18 August 1997 / Accepted: 20 October 1997     

Nitrite formation in aerated aqueous azide solutions: A radiation chemical study

Gamma radiolysis of oxygenated 1–10 mM azide solutions was carried out at various pH values. In oxygenated 10 mM azide solutions, H₂O₂ and NO ₂ ⁻ were observed as radiolytic products while NH3 was not. The concentration of H₂O₂ reached its maximum level at a dose of 1 kGy, whereas NO ₂ ⁻ yield increased non-linearly beyond 2 kGy in this system. Both in aerated and oxygenated systems, G(NO ₂ ⁻ ) and G(H₂O₂) were found to vary with N ₃ ⁻ concentration. The yield of NO ₂ ⁻ was found to be dependent on both dose rate and pH. On pulse radiolysis, NO ₂ ⁻ was found as a radiolytic product in aerated 1 mM azide solution at pH 6.8. In this system the intermediate generated exhibits absorbance around 250 nm. The overall results obtained during the present study reveal that in presence of both reducing radical (mainly e _aq ⁻ ) and oxygen, N ₃ ⁻ produced an intermediate possibly NH₂O ₂ ^• radical, which is the prime source for NO ₂ ⁻ generation.     

Extraction of pertechnetate with tetraphenylphosphonium in the presence of various acids, salts and hydroxides

Solvent extraction of pertechnetate anions from aqueous solutions of some mineral acids (HCl, HNO₃, HClO₄, H₂SO₄), (NaCl, NaNO₃, NaClO₄, K₂CrO₄, NaCO₃), NaOH and NH₄OH by tetraphenylphosphonium chloride in chloroform and nitrobenzene was studied. The results are presented in the form of the dependencies of extraction characteristics of TcO ₄ ⁻ (distribution ratio, percentage of extraction) on the (C₆H₅)₄PCl, H⁺ and competitive anion concentrations. The solvent extraction of sub-and super-stoichiometric ratio of TcO ₄ ⁻ : (C₆H₅)₄P⁺ was performed. The extraction constant values of ion pairs TcO ₄ ⁻ −Cl⁻, TcO ₄ ⁻ −NO ₃ ⁻ , TcO ₄ ⁻ −ClO ₄ ⁻ and of individual anions TcO ₄ ⁻ , Cl⁻, NO ₃ ⁻ , ClO ₄ ⁻ were calculated.     

Photochemistry of the IrCl<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> complex in aqueous solutions in the presence of the bromide anions

Laser flash photolysis (308 nm) was applied to study photochemistry of the IrCl₆ ²⁻ complex in aqueous solutions in the presence of the Br⁻ anions. The formation of the Br₂ ^·− radical anions in the reaction between the Br⁻ ion and secondary radical pair formed after the photon absorption by the initial complex was observed. The Br₂ ^·− radical anions decay both in recombination and in the reaction with the initial IrCl₆ ²⁻ complex.     

Receptor properties of calix[4]resorcinarenes toward tetramethylammonium and choline cations in micellar solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate

Concentration range of solubilization of calix[4]resorcinarene (H₈L) in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles was found. The interaction of the deprotonated form of H8L (tetraanions [H₄L]⁴⁻) with tetramethylammonium (TMA) and choline cations in micellar solutions of SDS was studied by pH-metry and NMR spectroscopy. The concentration dependences of the change in the cloud point in a multicomponent system TMA (choline)-[H₄L]⁴-SDS-tetrabutylammonium bromide were determined. A correlation of these dependences with host-guest binding processes was found. The sharp change in the cloud points of the corresponding micellar solutions in concentration regions of TMA (0-5·10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹) and choline (0–1.1· 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹) is caused by the formation of inclusion complexes TMA (choline)-[H₄L]⁴⁻ at the interface of the aqueous and micellar pseudophases. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1366–1371, August, 2006.     

Thallous chloride complexes in 0 to 6 molal sodium chloride at 25°C

The solubility of thallous chloride in sodium chloride solutions varies from 16.2×10⁻³ in distilled water to 3.5×10⁻³m in 6.0m NaCl. The solubility curve is described by the formation of Tl⁺, TlCl⁰, TlCl ₂ ^t- , and TlCl ₄ ³⁻ . At low NaCl concentrations, Tl⁺ and TlCl⁰ are the main species and TlCl ₄ ³⁻ . appears to be more stable than TlCl ₃ ²⁻     

Isopiestic Investigation of the Osmotic and Activity Coefficients of {yMgCl2+(1−y)MgSO4}(aq) and the Osmotic Coefficients of Na2SO4⋅MgSO4(aq) at 298.15 K

Isopiestic vapor-pressure measurements were made for {yMgCl₂+(1−y)MgSO₄}(aq) solutions with MgCl₂ ionic strength fractions of y=(0,0.1997,0.3989,0.5992,0.8008, and 1) at the temperature 298.15 K, using KCl(aq) as the reference standard. These measurements for the mixtures cover the ionic strength range I=0.9794 to 9.4318 mol⋅kg⁻¹. In addition, isopiestic measurements were made with NaCl(aq) as reference standard for mixtures of {xNa₂SO₄+(1−x)MgSO₄}(aq) with the molality fraction x=0.5000 that correspond to solutions of the evaporite mineral bloedite (astrakanite), Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂⋅4H₂O(cr). The total molalities, m _T=m(Na₂SO₄)+m(MgSO₄), range from m _T=1.4479 to 4.4312 mol⋅kg⁻¹ (I=5.0677 to 15.509 mol⋅kg⁻¹), where the uppermost concentration is the highest oversaturation molality that could be achieved by isothermal evaporation of the solvent at 298.15 K. The parameters of an extended ion-interaction (Pitzer) model for MgCl₂(aq) at 298.15 K, which were required for an analysis of the {yMgCl₂+(1−y)MgSO₄}(aq) mixture results, were evaluated up to I=12.075 mol⋅kg⁻¹ from published isopiestic data together with the six new osmotic coefficients obtained in this study. Osmotic coefficients of {yMgCl₂+(1−y)MgSO₄}(aq) solutions from the present study, along with critically-assessed values from previous studies, were used to evaluate the mixing parameters of the extended ion-interaction model.     

Pulse radiolysis study of the oxidation of the I<Superscript>−</Superscript> ions with the radical anions Br<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>·−</Superscript> in an aqueous solution: formation and properties of the radical anion BrI<Superscript>·−</Superscript>

The radiation chemical redox transformations in solutions of bromides in the presence of minor additives of iodides were studied by pulse radiolysis. The change in the concentrations of the Br⁻ and I⁻ ions changes the ratio of the formed short-lived radical anions Br₂ ^·−, BrI^·−, and I₂ ^·−. The spectrum of the mixed radical anion BrI^·− contains a broad optical band at 370 nm with ɛ₃₇₀ = 9650 L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The reduction potential of the BrI^·−/Br⁻, I⁻ pair is 1.25 V. The rate constants for the forward and backward reactions Br₂ ^·− + I⁻ ⇌ BrI^·− + Br⁻ are k _f = 4.3·10⁹ and k _r = 1.0·10⁵ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively; for the reactions BrI^·− ⇌ Br⁻ + I^·, k _f = 5.7·10⁸ s⁻¹ and k _r = 1.0·10¹⁰ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1787–1792, September, 2008.     

Photochemical synthesis of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles

The formation of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles upon UV irradiation of aqueous solutions of cadmium thiosulfates was established on the basis of spectroscopic and macroscopic data. The yield and size of the cadmium sulfide nanoparticles depend on the ratio of cadmium to thiosulfate ions in solution, the concentration of the solution, and the irradiation duration. The cadmium sulfide nanoparticles with a diameter of 4 nm were obtained by the photolysis of solutions with a concentration of 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ at the ratio S₂O₃ ²⁻: Cd²⁺ = 2: 1.     

The study of the speciation of uranyl–sulphate complexes by UV–Vis absorption spectra decomposition

Uranyl–sulphate complexes are the predominant U(VI) species present in acid solutions resulting either from underground uranium ore leaching or from the remediation of leaching sites. Thus, the study of U(VI) speciation in these solutions is of practical significance. The spectra of UO₂(NO₃)₂ + Na₂SO₄ solutions of different Φ _S = [SO₄²⁻]/[U(VI)] ratio at pH = 2 were recorded for this purpose. As the presence of uranyl-nitrate complexes should be expected under these experimental conditions, the spectra of UO₂(NO₃)₂ + NaNO₃ solutions with different Φ _N = [NO₃⁻]/[U(VI)] ratio at pH = 2 were also measured. The effects of Φ _S and Φ _N ratios value were most pronounced in wavelength interval 380–500 nm. Therefore, these parts of experimental overall spectra were used for deconvolution into the spectra of individual species by the method proposed. It enabled to calculate stability constants of anticipated species at zero ionic strength. The Specific Ion Interaction Theory (SIT) was used for this purpose. Stability constants of UO₂SO₄, UO₂(SO₄)₂²⁻, UO₂NO₃ ⁺ and UO₂(NO₃)₂ coincided well with published data, but those for UO₂(SO₄)₃⁴⁻ and UO₂(NO₃)₃⁻ were significantly lower.