Photochemical reduction of uranyl ion with aromatic alkanes

Uranyl ion is photochemically reduced to uranium(IV) in the presence of diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane. Quantum yields for uranium(IV) formation are accelerated with time suggesting the free radical formation, which triggers off a secondary reaction. Lower quantum yield and higherK _sv value for photochemical reduction of uranyl ion with triphenylmethane relative to the respective values observed with diphenylmethane reveals the competition between photophysical and photochemical deactivation of excited uranyl ion due to the presence of three and two phenyl groups in respective aromatic hydrocarbons for photophysical deactivation.     

Uranium tris-aryloxide derivatives supported by triazacyclononane: engendering a reactive uranium(III) center with a single pocket for reactivity

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the mononuclear uranium complex [((ArO)(3)tacn)U(III)(NCCH(3))] is reported. The uranium(III) complex reacts with organic azides to yield uranium(IV) azido as well as uranium(V) imido complexes, [((ArO)(3)tacn)U(IV)(N(3))] and [((ArO)(3)tacn)U(V)(NSi(CH(3))(3))]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic, and computational studies of this analogous series of uranium tris-aryloxide complexes supported by triazacyclononane are described. The hexadentate, tris-anionic ligand coordinates to the large uranium ion in unprecedented fashion, engendering coordinatively unsaturated and highly reactive uranium centers. The macrocyclic triazacyclononane tris-aryloxide derivative occupies six coordination sites, with the three aryloxide pendant arms forming a trigonal plane at the metal center. DFT quantum mechanic methods were applied to rationalize the reactivity and to elucidate the electronic structure of the newly synthesized compounds. It is shown that the deeply colored uranium(III) and uranium(V) species are stabilized via pi-bonding interaction, involving uranium f-orbitals and the axial acetonitrile and imido ligand, respectively. In contrast, the bonding in the colorless uranium(IV) azido complex is purely ionic in nature. The magnetism of the series of complexes with an [N3O3-N(ax)] core structure and oxidation states +III, +IV, and +V is discussed in context of the electronic structures.     

Potentiometric titration of milligram quantities of uranium in the presence of iron

A method is described for the potentiometric titration of milligram quantities of the uranium(IV) ion in the presence of iron. This is accomplished by complexing the iron with 1.10-phcnanthroline. The uranium can then be titrated with standard ceric sulfate without interference from the iron.     

Extraction-photometric determination of uranium(IV) with chlorophosphonazo-III

A sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of uranium. The uranium(IV)-chlorophosphonazo-III complex is extracted into 3-methyl-1-butanol from 1.5–3.0 M hydrochloric acid solution. Maximal absorbance occurs at 673 nm and Beer's law is obeyed over the range of 0–15 μg per 10 ml of the organic phase. The molar absorptivity is 12.1·10⁴ 1 mole^?1 cm^?1. Uranium can be determined in the presence of fluoride. sulfate and phosphate. Nitrate ion and elements (chromium, copper, iron) which affect the reduction of uranium(VI) or stability of uranium(IV) interfere.     

Violation of Vavilov’s law upon excitation of luminescence of uranyl solutions at the short-wavelength absorption band (200–240 nm)

It was found that in the UV spectral region (200–240 nm) where intense absorption bands of the UO ₂ ²⁺ ion are located, excitation of its luminescence in solutions is not observed, thereby contradicting Vavilov’s law about independence of luminescence quantum yields from the excitation light wavelength. The violation of Vavilov’s law is explained in terms of nonradiative deactivation processes as the result of photoinduced electron transfer to the uranyl ion with its reduction to the pentavalent state and the subsequent disproportionation reaction to form uranium(IV). The presence of uranium(IV) ions during UV irradiation of uranyl solutions was proved by the chemiluminescent method.     

Photoelectron spectra of uranium(IV), (V) and (VI) complexes

Satellites were observed on 4f photoelectron spectra of uranium (IV) complexes, while none was seen for diamagnetic uranyl complexes. Photoelectron lines of oxygen 1s coordinated to the uranium ion were broad for NaUO₃ and uranyl complexes.     

Die Verteilung von Uran(IV) zwischen wässriger Salpetersäure und organischen Lösungen des Nitratsalzes des sekundären Amins Amberlite LA-1

The nitrate salt solution of the secondary amine Amberlite LA-1 in organic solvents extracts uranium(IV) from aqueous nitric acid solutions. The distribution ratio of uranium(IV) reaches a maximum at an equilibrium nitric acid concentration of 8.5M in the aqueous phase. Addition of n-octanol to the organic phase decreases, and the addition of nitrate to the aqueous phase increases the uranium(IV) distribution ratio. The extraction of uranium(IV) is fast and the equilibrium distribution is reached within less than one minute. At low uranium(IV) concentrations (<6·10⁻³ M) the distribution ratio is independent of the uranium(IV) concentration. At high uranium(IV) loadings of the organic phase an extrapolation gives a mole ratio of amine: uranium(IV)=2∶1. A double logarithmic plot of the dependence of the uranium(IV) distribution ratio vs. the LA-1 concentration in the organic phase gives a curve with a slope of two when polar diluents for LA-1 are used. This slope of two and the shapes of the absorption spectra of the organic phase from 400 to 700 nm make it very probable that uranium(IV) exists in the organic phase as a hexanitrato complex.      

Comparison of numerical and physicochemical models for spectrophotometric monitoring of uranium concentration

On-line spectrophotometric monitoring of nuclear-fuel reprocessing streams requires a physicochemical model suitable for predicting uranium and nitric acid concentrations in a uranyl nitrate/nitric acid system. The effects of uranium, nitrate and hydrogen ion concentrations and ionic strength on the complexation equilibria of uranium(IV) with nitrate are described. Molar absorptivities for the uranium mononitrate and dinitrate complexes between 410 and 440 nm are given. The apparent equilibrium constants are evaluated as a function of the ionic strength. The limitations of this predictive model are emphasized and comparisons with numerical models are discussed.     

Thermometric titration of uranium(iv)with potassium dichromate

A thermometric method is presented for the redox titration of uranium(IV) with dichromate. The investigation was made primarily to determine the applicability of the thermometric method to redox titrations in solutions that contain ions deleterious to electrodes used in electrometric methods. A relative standard error of ±1% attainable in the titration of quantities of uranium(lV) of the order of 5 mg. Less than l 5 min is required to complete a titration. Fluoride ion can be tolerated in the solution provided that sufficient aluminium(111) is added to complex all the fluoride.     

环境中有机物和微生物对黄铁矿还原铀的影响

天然铀矿中铀常与黄铁矿共生,这两者之间存在着相互作用,而环境中有机物和微生物也会对此共生现象产生一些影响。本文采用循环伏安法(CV)研究了黄铁矿与U(VI)体系中的铀价态的变化及电子转移数,结果表明,黄铁矿可以自发把U(VI)还原到U(V)和U(IV)。腐殖酸(HA)存在时对黄铁矿还原铀有抑制作用,氧化亚铁硫杆菌(TF)存在时则有协同作用。光电子能谱研究表明,黄铁矿中的Fe^2+和S^-对U(VI)的还原都起了作用。本文从电子、离子等微观角度研究了黄铁矿还原富集铀的反应机理,解释了天然铀矿中铀与黄铁矿共生这一现象,为铀成矿理论提供了新依据,并为黄铁矿在环境污染修复中的应用及周围环境影响程度的大小提供了理论依据。     

Bestimmung der freien Säure in wäßrigen Uran(IV)-nitrat- und Uran(IV)-perchloratlösungen

Methods described in literature for the determination of free acid in solutions containing plutonium(IV), uranium(VI) and aluminium(III) were investigated for their applicability in the presence of uranium(IV). Most methods turned out to work in the presence of uranium(IV). The simplest procedure was the suppression of the uranium(IV) hydrolysis by complexation with excess of fluoride. No bias was observed in the presence of 0–30 mg of uranium(IV). A variance of 1.4% resulted from the determination of 0.4 millimole of acid in the presence of 26 mg of uranium(IV) and a variance of 0.26% was obtained when 2 millimoles of acid were determined in the presence of 130 mg of uranium(IV). Uranium(IV) from 30–260 mg in 250 ml caused a negative bias, which can be corrected for. — A concentration of potassium fluoride in the titration medium of 10 g/l turned out to be optimum. In 11/2 years more than 750 determinations were carried out with the same glass electrode and no destruction of the electrode was observed. The influence of uranium(VI), iron(III) and aluminium (III) on the determination of the free acid was also investigated.     

Thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) complexes with some heterocyclic azo dyes in absolute ethanol

Thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) chelate complexes with PAN, PAR, TAN and TAR have been studied in absolute ethanol. The uranyl ion forms complexes with PAN, PAR, TAN and TAR in the metal to ligand molar ratio of 1:1. Thorium(IV) forms complexes with PAR, TAR and TAN in the molar ratio of 1:2. In case of Th(IV)-PAN complexes the molar ratio is 1:2.4. The stability constants for all the above complexes have been worked out using the mole ratio method. The kinetics of aquation of Th(IV)-PAN complexes indicate that PAN acts as a tridentate ligand.     

Determination of uranium using a flow system with reagent injection. Application to the determination of uranium in ore leachates

The determination of uranium by a flow system with reagent injection is based on the reaction of U(IV) with Arsenazo III in 3.6 M HCl; U(IV) is generated by reduction of uranyl ion in a lead reductor minicolumn installed in the sample channel of the manifold. The interference effect caused by several ions is studied. The calibration graph is linear up to 1.0 × 10^?5 M (2.4 mg l^?1) and the detection limit is 2.8 × 10^?8 M (6.6 μg l^?1). The modification of the manifold by including a second valve to by-pass the reducing column allows the measurement of the difference in peak heights, which makes the method specific for uranium.     

Precipitation of uranium from low-level liquid wastes

A method for the recovery of uranium from low-level liquid wastes is described. Uranium(VI) is reduced to uranium(IV) in sulphuric-phosphoric acid solution with iron(II). The uranium(IV) is precipitated as the double duoride with sodium. The uranium content of the filtrate is in the low ppm range. Possible modifications to the procedure are discussed.     

Efficient uranous nitrate production using membrane electrolysis

Electrochemical reduction of uranyl nitrate is a green, simple way to make uranous ion. In order to improve the ratio of uranous ion to the total uranium and maintain high current efficiency, an electrolyser with very thin cathodic and anodic compartment, which were separated by a cation exchange membrane, was setup, and its performance was tested. The effects of various parameters on the reduction were also evaluated. The results show that the apparatus is quite positive. It runs well with 120 mA/cm² current density (72 cm² cathode, constant current batch operation). U(IV) yield can achieve 93.1 % (500 mL feed, total uranium 199 g/L) after 180 min electrolysis. It was also shown that when U(IV) yield was below 80 %, very high current efficiency was maintained, and there was almost a linear relationship between uranous ion yield and electrolysis time; under the range of experimental conditions, the concentration of uranyl nitrate, hydrazine, and nitric acid had little effect on the reduction.     

Sorption of uranium on magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticle was synthesized using a solid state mechanochemical method and used for studying the sorption of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution onto the nanomaterial. The synthesized product is characterized using SEM, XRD and XPS. The particles were found to be largely agglomerated. XPS analysis showed that Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of the product is 0.58. Sorption of uranium on the synthesized nanomaterials was studied as a function of various operational parameters such as pH, initial metal ion concentration, ionic strength and contact time. pH studies showed that uranium sorption on magnetite is maximum in neutral solution. Uranium sorption onto magnetite showed two step kinetics, an initial fast sorption completing in 4–6 h followed by a slow uptake extending to several days. XPS analysis of the nanoparticle after sorption of uranium showed presence of the reduced species U(IV) on the nanoparticle surface. Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of the nanoparticle after uranium sorption was found to be 0.48, lower than the initial value indicating that some of the ferrous ion might be oxidized in the presence of uranium(VI). Uranium sorption studies were also conducted with effluent from ammonium diuranate precipitation process having a uranium concentration of about 4 ppm. 42% removal was observed during 6 h of equilibration.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Uranium with Sorbohydroxamic Acid as Reagent

Sorbohydroxamic acid forms with uranium an orange red, water soluble complex. The mole ratio of uranyl ion to compound is 1 to 1 under the investigated conditions. The formation constant of this chelate was also determined by the Likussar—Boltz method at a constant ionic strength of 0.1 M at 30°C as 2.10×10². The recommended procedure obeys Beer's law between 3.98ppm and 166.6ppm of uranyl ion at pH 3.8±0.1. Tolerances to cerium (IV) and thorium have been investigated. The procedure for the determination of uranium are made more specific by applying preliminary extraction of uranium by ether.     

Polarographic behavior of uranium(VI) in malonic acid media determination of uranium in plutonium

The polarographic behavior of the uranium-malonate complex was investigated over the pH range 1.1–6.5. A reversible, one-electron wave was obtained. Below pH 4.9, the rate of disproportionation is nearly instantaneous and gives rise to a pseudo uranium(VI)-uranium(IV) reduction. Above pH 4.8 the concentration of uranium(V) is stable with respect to disproportionation. The half-wave potential is pH-dependent below pH 4.9, but it is independent of the malonate concentration above O.1 M. The diffusion current constant is 2.78 for the conditions described. A procedure for the determination of uranium in plutonium was developed for uranium concentrations greater than 225 p.p.m. Of 21 common impurities found in plutonium metal, only Cu, Fe, Pb, Sb and Ti cause significant interference ; titanium can be removed by ion exchange, and the other interferences by mercury cathode electrolysis.     

Keggin Polyoxotungstoborate with Uranium(IV)

A new uranium tungstoborate heteropolyanion K₁₂[U(BW₁₁O₃₉H)₂]·23 H₂O has been prepared and investigated by thermal analyses, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The compound obtained from Keggin monolacunary anions is 1:2 sandwich-type and exhibits a square antiprismatic stereochemistry for uranium (IV) ion.     

Determination of plutonium and uranium in mixed oxide fuels by sequential redox titration

The use of a sequential determination of uranium and plutonium in a single sample solution results in a saving in analysis time and apparatus requirements. The method starts with U(IV) and Pu(in) in a mixture of sulphuric and nitric adds. Titration with dichromate, using amperometry at a pair of polarizable electrodes, produces two well-defined end-points corresponding to the sequential oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI) and Pu(III) to Pu(IV). The quantitative oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI) is achieved via the action of Pu(IV) as intermediate, and is dependent upon establishing conditions which favour rapid reaction between U(IV) and Pu(IV). The method is precise and accurate. With Pu-U mixtures containing between 15 and 30% plutonium the precision (3sigma) of the Pu: U ratio results is +/-0.6% on samples containing 100-120 mg of plutonium plus uranium. Iron and vanadium interfere quantitatively with plutonium, copper interferes non-quantitatively with uranium, and gross amounts of molybdenum mask the uranium end-point.