Sorption characteristics of Am(III), Sr(II) and Cs(I) on bentonite and granite

The ability of the back-fill and the host rock materials to take up radioisotopes like ²⁴¹Am, ^85,89Sr and ¹³⁷Cs has been examined as a function of contact time, pH, amount of sorbent, sorbate concentration, and the presence of complementary cations. A batch technique using actual borehole water from the granite formation has been utilized. In general, the uptake of nuclides by bentonite is much higher than that with granite. The sorption order of nuclides on bentonite is Am>Cs>Sr. The presence of complementary cations, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ depresses the sorption of Cs and Sr on bentonite. The sorption data have been interpreted in terms of Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equations. Utilizing the Langmuir isotherm equation, the monolayer capacity, V _m ,and the binding constant, K, have been evaluated. The change in free energy for the sorption of nuclides on bentonite has also been calculated.     

Sorption of the long-lived radionuclides cesium-134, strontium-85 and cobalt-60 on bentonite

The sorption of long-lived radionuclides of cesium, strontium and cobalt (¹³⁴Cs, ⁸⁵Sr and ⁶⁰Co) on bentonite under various experimental conditions, such as contact time, pH, sorbent and sorbate concentrations have been studied. The uptake of Cs and Sr was rapid and equilibrium was reached almost instantaneously in both the cases, while Co sorption was time dependent. The sorption of these nuclides increased by increasing pH. The uptake of Cs, Sr and Co increased with increasing the amount of the bentonite clay. The percentage sorption for Cs, Sr and Co decreased with increasing metal concentrations. The desorption studies with 0.01M CaCl₂ and ground water at low-metal loadings on bentonite showed that about 95% of Cs, 85-90% of Sr and 97% of Co were irreversibly sorbed. These results could be helpful for nuclear waste management, for waste water effluents containing low concentrations of cesium, strontium and cobalt.     

Distribution coefficients of137Cs and85Sr by mixtures of clay and humic material

Distribution coefficients K_d for the sorption of Cs and Sr on mixtures of a clay mineral (Ca-saturated bentonite) and humic material (Ca-humate) have been measured and were compared with calculated values obtained from the K_d-values observed for the pure components. The concentration of Sr and Cs in the solution was varied between 1·10^–6 and 0.01N and the distribution of the elements determined by using radioactive tracers. All experiments were carried out in pure water as well as in the presence of a supporting electrolyte (0.01N CaCl₂). It was found that the differences between the observed and calculated K_d-values were, if present, always negative if Cs was sorbed, and positive if Sr was sorbed.     

Cesium, strontium, europium(III) and plutonium(IV) complexes with humic acid in solution and on montmorillonite surface

The effect of Aldrich humic acid (HA) on the mobility of¹³⁷Cs,⁸⁵Sr,¹⁵²Eu and²³⁹Pu radionuclides was studied in Ca-montmorillonite suspensions. Verified 2-sites-2-species (2s2s) models correspond to an intensive interaction of all elements with humificated surface, what is in a remarkable contrast with the weak complexation of cesium and even strontium in solutions — the neutral ligand interaction constants β (l/mol) are log β<−9.9 and 7.56±0.21 for Cs and Sr, respectively. The result for europium complexation in solution, log β=12.49±0.18 is in a good agreement with literature data. For plutonium(IV) not only a high proton competitive constant in solution was obtained, log β β=(−0.67±0.32)+3pH, but also a strong chemisorption, which at high concentrations of humic acid (above 0.05 g/l) indicates the formation of bridge humate complexes of plutonium on the humificated surface. Logarithms of heterogeneous interaction constants ( ₂₄ l/g) of the elements with surface humic acid are 4.47±0.23, 4.39±0.08, and 6.40±0.33 for Cs, Sr, and Eu(III), respectively, and the logarithm of the proton competitive constant ( ₂₄, l/g) for Pu(IV) −3.80±0.72. Distribution coefficients of humic acid and metal humates between 0.01 g HA/l solution and montmorillonite were derived as logK _d(AH)=−1.04±0.11, logK _d(EuA)=1.56±0.11 and logK _d(PuA)=2.25±0.04, while the values for Cs and Sr were obtained with very high uncertainty. Speciation of the elements on montmorillonite surface is illustrated as a function of equilibrium concentration of humic acid in solution and of pH.     

Immobilization of molten salt waste into MZr2(PO4)3 (M=Li, Na, Cs, Sr)

Summary Amorphous zirconium phosphate (Zr(HPO₄)₂^.nH₂O, AM-ZP) has been investigated as a material for selective removal of Cs or Sr from molten salt waste at aqueous state and its ceramic waste form. NZP (MZr₂P₃O₁₂, M=Li, Na, Cs, and Sr), was synthesized by three methods and evaluated their durability by the Product Consistency Test (PCT) method. AM-ZP has a high selectivity on Cs and Sr even in the presence of Li with high concentration. From the leaching data, the leached fractions (LF_∞) of each product at a given time in infinite leachate volume can be calculated by a semi-empirical equation. The LF_∞ of Li, Na, Cs and Sr on the product prepared by composition-adjusting process were 0.143, 0.078, 0.017, and 0.034, respectively. It can be concluded that AM-ZP is an effective material for selective removal of radionuclides from molten salt waste and its metal-loaded ZP can be changed into a durable waste form close to NZP structure by a composition-adjusting process.     

Adsorption characteristics of radionuclides on nickel hexacyanoferrate(ii)

The composition of nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) complexes depends on the ratios of sodium hexacyanoferrate(II) and nickel nitrate solutions mixed. The adsorption behavior of nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) is described; acid treatment of Ni₂Fe(CN)₆ accelerates the adsorption rate of cesium, but does not increase the adsorption capacity. The Ni—Cs exchange ratios of Ni₂Fe(CN)₆ are discussed. In concentrated salt solutions, the distribution coefficients of ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn. ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁵Zr and ¹⁴⁴Ce are determined together with those of ⁸⁵Sr and ¹⁰⁶Ru. A simple determination of ¹³⁷Cs in sea water containing ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁹⁵Zr, ¹⁴⁴Ce, ⁸⁵Sr and ¹⁰⁶Ru is described.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Cs(VO2)3(TeO3)2, a New Layered Cesium Vanadium(V) Tellurite

Synthetic Cs(VO₂)₃(TeO₃)₂ is built up from infinite sheets of distorted octahedral V^VO₆ groups, sharing vertices. These octahedral layers are “capped” by Te atoms (as parts of pyramidal [Te^IVO₃]^2– groups) on both faces of each V/O sheet, with inter‐layer, 12‐coordinate, Cs⁺ cations providing charge compensation. Cs(VO₂)₃(TeO₃)₂ is isostructural with M(VO₂)₃(SeO₃)₂ (M = NH₄, K). Crystal data: Cs(VO₂)₃(TeO₃)₂, M_r = 732.93, hexagonal, space group P6₃ (No. 173), a = 7.2351(9) Å, c = 11.584(2) Å, V = 525.1(2) ų, Z = 2, R(F) = 0.030, wR(F ²) = 0.063.     

Die Reaktion von Cyanid-Ionen mit Trimethylgallium. Die Kristallstrukturen von [Cs{CN(GaMe3)2}]n und [Cs(Toluol)2{CN(GaMe3)2}]n

The Reaction of Cyanide Ions with Trimethylgallium. The Crystal Structures of [Cs{CN(GaMe₃)₂}]_n (1) and [Cs(toluene)₂{CN(GaMe₃)₂}]_n (2) CsCN reacts with GaMe₃ in the molar ratio of 1 : 2 in the absence of additional solvent to the metalate [Cs{CN(GaMe₃)₂}] ( 1 ). 1 can be recrystallized from MeCN/toluene, forming [Cs(toluene)₂{CN(GaMe₃)₂}] ( 2 ). If CsCN is treated with one equivalent GaMe₃ in Et₂O at 20 °C, the metalate [Cs(NCGaMe₃)] can be isolated. 1 – 3 were characterized by NMR, IR, and MS techniques. In addition, X-ray structure analyses of 1 and 2 were prepared. According to the structural characterization 1 consists of a helix of Cs⁺ ions and side-on coordinated anions [Me₃GaCNGaMe₃]^–, running along [010]. π-Electron-Cs⁺ contacts between Cs cations and toluene molecules are dominating the structure of 2 . The residual equatorial positions at the [Cs(toluene)₂]⁺ sandwich-ion are occupied by Cs⁺-hydrogen(methyl) interactions. A three-dimensional network is the result of the contacts between cations and anions.     

Adsorption of Cs(I), Sr(II) and Co(II) on Al2O3

The sorption of Cs(I), Sr(II) and Co(II) from aqueous solutions on alumina under various experimental conditions has been studied by batch techniques. Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubnin-Raduskevich equations have been used to interpret the sorption data. The values of various thermodynamic parameters have been determined. The sorption of Cs(I) and Sr(II) on alumina is exothermic in nature while that of Co(II) is an endothermic process. The H ^o values for Cs(I), Sr(II) and Co(II) were–23.29 KJ/mol at 298K,–35.3 KJ/mol at 293 K and 13.49 KJ/mol at 293 K, respectively. Negative values of G ^o show the spontaneity of the sorption processes; G ^o values of Cs(I) and Sr(II) becomes less negative at higher temperatures while the G ^o values of Co(II) become more negative with increasing temperature. At higher temperatures, less amounts of Cs(I) and Sr(II) and greater amounts of Co(II) are sorbed on alumina. The values of the mean free energies of sorption,E, for Sr(II) and Co(II) at various temperatures were within the range of 7–10 KJ/mol which show that these metals are sorbed on alumina predominantly by an ion-exchange process.     

Kinetics of the adsorption of strontium(II) by a novel silica-based 4,4'',(5'')-di(tert-butylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6 extraction resin in nitric acid medium

A new type of silica-based chelating extraction resin, DtBuCH18C6/SiO₂-P, was prepared by impregnating a crown ether derivative, 4,4,(5)-di(tert-butylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6 (DtBuCH18C6), into the porous silica/polymer composite particles (SiO₂-P). The adsorption of Sr(II) and some other fission product elements was investigated by a batch adsorption experiment in HNO₃ medium. It was found that Sr(II) exhibits a strong adsorption onto the extraction resin, while the other fission product elements show almost no or only weak adsorption. The adsorption kinetics of Sr(II) was explained by assuming as the rate-controlling step the complex-formation reaction between Sr(II) and DtBuCH18C6 contained in the extraction resin. The rate equation of Sr(II) adsorption was determined as:-d[Sr(II)]/dt = k[Sr(II)][DtBuCH18C6][NO₃ ^–]^0.5.     

Regularities of formation of iron(III) nanocrystalline oxides and oxyhydroxides during oxidation of iron(II) compounds in an alkaline medium

Regularities of formation of nanocrystalline iron(III) oxides and oxyhydroxides via oxidation of iron(II) compounds in an alkaline pH range (pH ≥ 12) were studied using pH and E _h measurements, chemical analysis, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. When the molar ratio [OH⁻]/[Fe^II] ∼ 2 (pH ∼ 12–12.5), the oxidation process yields cube-shaped magnetite Fe₃O₄ particles. An excess of an alkaline agent with an overstoichiometric concentration equal to or higher than 0.5 mol/L (pH ≥ 13.5) induces the formation of anisotropic particles of nanocrystalline goethite α-FeOOH over the entire range of the synthesis parameters studied. Reaction products (Fe₃O₄ and/or α-FeOOH) are formed immediately as the initial Fe(OH)₂ starts oxidizing by the dissolution-oxidation-precipitation mechanism near the surface of Fe(OH)₂ precursor particles. Carbonate ions considerably change the structure and shape of newly formed α-FeOOH particles.     

Selective adsorption and separation of Cs(I) from salt lake brine by a novel surface magnetic ion-imprinted polymer

A new Cs(I) magnetic ion-imprinted polymer (Cs(I)-MIIP) aimed at the selective adsorption and separation of Cs(I) from salt lake brine was prepared. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ was used as supporter, Cs(I) as template ion, and carboxymethyl chitosan as functional monomer. The product was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, XRD, energy-dispersive spectrometry, scanning electron microcopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The adsorption of the Cs(I)-MIIP in solution was investigated, which indicated the maximum adsorption capacity was 36.15?mg·g^?1 under the optimum conditions. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model were applied to predict the adsorption process of Cs(I) onto Cs(I)-MIIP. Selectivity experiments showed that the relative selectivity coefficient (k′) were 24.995, 1.73, 1.43, 4.83, and 1.63 to Cs(I)/Li(I), Cs(I)/Na(I), Cs(I)/K(I), Cs(I)/Rb(I), and Cs(I)/Sr(II) binary solutions, higher than those of NIP, respectively. Furthermore, the Cs(I)-MIIP was successfully applied to the enrichment and separation of Cs(I) from the salt lake brine of Qinghai, with satisfactory Cs(I) recovery rates.     

Dynamic computer simulations of Cs incorporation in Si during low‐energy (0.2–3 keV) irradiation

The incorporation of Cs atoms in silicon was investigated by dynamic computer simulations using the Monte‐Carlo code T‐DYN that takes into account the gradual change of the target composition due to the Cs irradiation. The implantation of Cs atoms at normal incidence was studied for four energies (0.2, 0.5, 1, and 3 keV) and three different Cs surface‐binding energies U_Cs (0.4, 0.8, and 2.4 eV). The total implantation fluences were 2 × 10¹⁷ Cs cm^?2 for 0.2 keV, 1.5 × 10¹⁷ Cs cm^?2 for 0.5 keV, and 1 × 10¹⁷ Cs cm^?2 for 1 and 3 keV. At these values, a stationary state has been reached. The steady‐state Cs‐surface concentrations exhibit a pronounced dependence both on impact energy and U_Cs, varying between ～1 (at 0.2 keV and U_Cs = 2.4 eV) and ～0.13 (3 keV and U_Cs = 0.4 eV). Under equilibrium, the partial sputtering yield of Si, Y_Si, experiences little influence of U_Cs, but varies with the Cs energy: at U_Cs = 0.8 eV from 0.09 to 1.0 Si atoms/Cs projectile. For all irradiation conditions a strongly preferential sputtering of Cs atoms as compared to Si atoms is found, increasing from 1.8 (at 3 keV and U_Cs = 2.4 eV) to 13.3 (at 0.2 keV and U_Cs = 0.4 eV). Preferential sputtering of Cs increases with decreasing irradiation energy and decreasing U_Cs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Migration of134Cs and85Sr in clay materials

Retardation mechanisms of¹³⁴Cs and⁸⁵Sr have been investigated. Batch determination of distribution coefficientK _d have been carried out for various values of factors affecting retardation such as solid-liquid ratio, particle size, composition of solid phase. Various types of bentonites and mixtures of bentonites with sand have been also studied.     

Uptake of cesium and strontium by crystalline silicotitanates from radioactive wastes

Crystalline silicotitanate inorganic ion exchanger, with a sitinakite structure is candidate material for remediation of aqueous nuclear waste streams. The syntheses of crystalline silicotitanate (CST) and Nb-substituted crystalline silcotitanate (Nb-CST) were carried out under hydrothermal conditions and the products were characterized using techniques viz., XRD, SEM/EDS, DTA/TGA, surface area respectively. Batch experiments were carried out to study the kinetics of uptake of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr, to estimate the decontamination factor (DF) values and distribution coefficients (K _d) for the above synthesized CST and Nb-CST samples from actual radioactive waste solutions. The DF values for uptake of Cs and Sr by Nb-CST after 24 h of equilibration was 355 and 136 whereas for CST it was found to be 40 and 176 respectively. The K _d values for uptake of Cs and Sr for Nb-CST after 24 h of equilibration was found to be 35,490 and 13,500 mL/g respectively whereas the K _d values for uptake of Cs and Sr for CST was found to be 4,025 and 17,525 mL/g respectively. The ion exchange capacity of Nb-CST towards ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs was estimated to be 11.8 and 3.2 meq/g respectively whereas the ion exchange capacity of CST towards ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs was estimated to be 14.6 and 4.4 meq/g respectively.     

Ternary molybdenum(III) chlorides

The phase diagrams of ACl/MoCl₃ (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs) were elucidated by DTA measurements in sealed quartz ampoules in the range of 0–40 mol% MoCl₃. The samples were prepared from alkali metal chlorides and the compounds A₃MoCl₆ or A₃Mo₂Cl₉. The 31 compounds withA=Na, Rb, Cs were obtained by sintering mixtures of 3ACl+MoCl₃; the enneachlorides A₃Mo₂Cl₉ withA=K, Rb, Cs were precipitated from solutions of MoCl₃·3H₂O and ACl in formic acid. Congruently melting compounds A₃MoCl₆ exist in all four systems, incongruently melting enneachlorides A₃Mo₂Cl₉ in systems withA=K, Rb, Cs. Still unknown structures were determined by analog-indexing powder patterns according to known structure families. Especially Cs₃MoCl₆ is isotypic with the recently found Cs₃CrCl₆ structure. Additionally, the unit cell parameters were determined for the compounds A₃MoCl₅·H₂O (A=K, Rb, Cs) analogous to Cs₂TiCl₅·H₂O, whose structure was determined by single crystal measurements.Dedicated to Prof. Menachem Steinberg on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Structures of Bismuth(III) Complexonates in Aqueous Solutions Studied by 1H NMR Method

Aqueous solutions of bismuth(III) nitrilotriacetates BiNta · 2H₂O and M₃Bi(Nta)₂ ·nH₂O (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH₄, CN₃H₆, n = 0–4) and the K[Bi(Edta)(Tu)₂] complex (Edta^4– is the anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Tu is thiocarbamide) are studied by the ¹H NMR method at room temperature in the pH interval from 2 to 11. The formation of two types of bismuth nitrilotriacetate complexes in solutions is established. They are characterized by the presence (type 1) or absence (type 2) of the Bi–N bond. Their ratio, depending on the composition and pH of the solution, is determined. The K[Bi(Edta)(Tu)₂] compound in solutions occurs as one form. The pH values at which the substance begins to decompose are determined for each compound.     

Sorption of Hexacyanoferrate(II,III) Anions on Nickel(II) Hydroxide

Fe(CN)₆ ^{3 -} and Fe(CN)₆ ^{4 -} anions are sorbed from aqueous solutions of their potassium and cesium salts on -Ni(OH)2 by the mechanism of anion exchange with hydroxy groups. Alkali metal cations (K⁺, Cs⁺) are also partly sorbed on nickel(II) hydroxide in the form of anionic complexes (K,Cs) _z Fe(CN)₆ ^{(n - z)-}, where n = 3 or 4 (0 < z < n). The chemical composition of the new phase appearing in contact of nickel(II) hydroxide with aqueous potassium and cesium hexacyanoferrates(II, III) was determined by X-ray phase analysis and IR spectroscopy.     

Phase formation in the Re-Se-Br-MBr systems (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)

Phase formation in the Re-Se-Br-MBr systems (M = K, Rb, Cs) was studied by NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The reactions taking place in alkali metal halide melts were found to give, among the series of cluster anions [{Re₆Se_{8 − n} Br _n }Br₆]^{(4 − n)}− (0 ≤ n≤ 4), polymeric complexes Re₆Se₈Br ₂ and M₂Re₆Se₈Br₄ (M = Cs, Rb) and salts containing cluster anions [Re₆Se₆Br₈]²⁻ and [Re₆Se₇Br₇]³⁻ as the major products. The effect of the alkali metal cation on the product composition and ratio was established. Original Russian Text ? S.S. Yarovoi, Yu.V. Mironov, S.V. Tkachev, V.E. Fyodorov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 344–349.     

Unusual centrosymmetric structure of [M(18‐crown‐6)]+ (M = Rb,Cs and NH4) complexes stabilized in an environment of hexachloridoantimonate(V) anions

In (1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecane)rubidium hexachloridoantimonate(V), [Rb(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)][SbCl₆], (1), and its isomorphous caesium {(1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecane)caesium hexachloridoantimonate(V), [Cs(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)][SbCl₆]}, (2), and ammonium {ammonium hexachloridoantimonate(V)–1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecane (1/1), (NH₄)[SbCl₆]·C₁₂H₂₄O₆}, (3), analogues, the hexachloridoantimonate(V) anions and 18‐crown‐6 molecules reside across axes passing through the Sb atoms and the centroids of the 18‐crown‐6 groups, both of which coincide with centres of inversion. The Rb⁺ [in (1)], Cs⁺ [in (2)] and NH₄⁺ [in (3)] cations are situated inside the cavity of the 18‐crown‐6 ring; they are situated on axes and are equally disordered about centres of inversion, deviating from the centroid of the 18‐crown‐6 molecule by 0.4808 (13), 0.9344 (7) and 0.515 (8) Å, respectively. Interaction of the ammonium cation and the 18‐crown‐6 group is supported by three equivalent hydrogen bonds [N...O = 2.928 (3) Å and N—H...O = 162°]. The centrosymmetric structure of [Cs(18‐crown‐6)]⁺, with the large Cs⁺ cation approaching the centre of the ligand cavity, is unprecedented and accompanied by unusually short Cs—O bonds [2.939 (2) and 3.091 (2) Å]. For all three compounds, the [M(18‐crown‐6)]⁺ cations and [SbCl₆]⁻ anions afford linear stacks along the c axis, with the cationic complexes embedded between pairs of inversion‐related anions.