Water confined between sheets of mackinawite FeS minerals

Wet iron-sulfur minerals have been shown to be ideal environments to allow for simple chemical reactions to occur in nature, for instance, in the framework of prebiotic chemistry. Yet, not much is known about such water/mineral interfaces beyond those involving pyrite, FeS(2), which is, however, chemically rather inert. In contrast, mackinawite is chemically reactive and consists of a layered crystal structure comprising FeS sheets that can be easily cleaved. Here, the properties of water confined between such sheets in lamella-like setups is investigated in the spirit of surface science model systems. The properties of this intercalated water are found to depend significantly on the interlayer distance and change from "arrested water" (in the limit of small interlayer distances) to liquid-like behavior.     

Highly efficient degradation of emerging contaminants by magnetic CuO@FexOy derived from natural mackinawite（FeS） in the presence of peroxymonosulfate

In this study,natural mackinawite （Fe S）,a chalcophilic mineral,was utilized to prepare iron/copper bimetallic oxides （Cu O@Fe_xO_y） by displacement plating and calcination process.Various characterization methods prove that Cu⁰is successfully coated on the surface of Fe S,which were further oxidized to Cu O,Fe₃O₄and/or Fe₂O₃during calcination process,respectively.Cu O@Fe_xO_yperformed highly efficient...     

A remote valency control technique: catalytic reduction of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV) by external ultrasound irradiation

We here report the enhancement of a sonochemical effect (chemical reaction induced by ultrasound irradiation) by a Pt black catalyst; the sonochemical reduction of the highly stable U(VI) was demonstrated using this catalytic reaction.     

Reversible binding and reduction of dinitrogen by a uranium(III) pentalene complex

The U(III) mixed-sandwich compound [U(eta-Cp)(eta-C(8)H(4)[Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4](2))] 1 may be prepared by sequential reaction of UI(3) with KCp followed by K(2)[C(8)H(4)[Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4](2)], and has been crystallographically characterized. 1 reacts reversibly with dinitrogen to afford dimeric [[U(eta-Cp)(eta-C(8)H(4)[Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4](2))](2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-N(2))] 2, whose X-ray crystal structure reveals a sideways-bound, bridging diazenido (N(2)(2-)) ligand.     

Efficient removal of Cr(VI) using partially oxidized FeS under visible light

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In this study, the removal of Cr(VI) using commercial FeS with the partially oxidized surface was investigated under visible light. The results demonstrated...     

Kinetic study of carbothermal reduction of zirconia under vacuum condition

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this research, formation mechanism and kinetics of vacuum carbothermal synthesis of zirconium carbide using zirconium acetate and sucrose are...     

Theoretical study of the reduction of uranium(VI) aquo complexes on titania particles and by alcohols

To provide insights into the adsorption and photoreduction of uranium(VI) on TiO(2), we have studied the structural and electronic properties of uranium(VI) aquo complexes adsorbed on stoichiometric and defected TiO(2) surfaces and nanoparticles. Plane wave calculations with the pure PBE density functional and the PBE+U approach were used to study U(VI) complexes on a periodic rutile (110) slab. In addition, a nanoparticulate Ti(38)O(76) cluster was used to simulate anatase nanoparticles. The electronic structures of the adsorbed U(VI) complexes indicate that the photoreduction process is a consequence of the photocatalytic properties of TiO(2). The reduction of the adsorbed complexes can only occur if the energy of the incident photon exceeds the semiconductor band gap. The gap states induced by single or neighboring hydrogen atoms and oxygen vacancies at the rutile (110) surface cannot reduce adsorbed U(VI) complexes as the unoccupied 5f orbitals are found deeper in the conduction band. In the absence of a solid substrate, photoreduction proceeds by abstraction of a hydrogen atom from water or organic molecules present in solution. Photoreduction by chlorophenol results in lower product yield than reduction by aliphatic alcohols. This is because the triplet uranyl-chlorophenol complex is much more stable than similar complexes formed with methanol and ethanol. In the case of water, the hydroxyl photoproduct easily re-oxidizes the pentavalent species formed. In addition, it is easier for the triplet uranyl-water complex to decompose to the photoreactants.     

Extraction of uranium(IV) and uranium(VI) by primary and tertiary-amines from sulphate solutions

In developing a method for possible low level isotopic enrichment, which uses to advantage the equilibrium isotope effect observed during U(1V)-U(VI) electron exchange reaction in sulphate solutions, details of a solvent extraction process involving high concentration of a mixture of U(IV) and U(VI) and at low acid concentrations, are described. The extraction behaviour of uranium under these conditions is discussed. During the extraction with amines, U(IV) tended to get oxidised in sulphate solutions.     

Platinum catalyzed reduction of uranium(VI) with hydrazine in sulfuric acid media

The process of platinum-catalyzed uranium(VI) reduction with hydrazine in sulfuric acid media has been studied. The influence of sulfuric acid and hydrazine concentrations, and temperature on the reaction rate were investigated. A new reaction mechanism is proposed. The process allows to obtain pure U(IV) sulfate solutions with concentrations of up to 0.3 mol·l^–1. Further increase of initial U(VI) concentrations is limited by the reductant solubility in sulfuric acid media.     

Extraction of uranium(VI) by bis(hexylsulfinyl)methane

The extraction of uranium(VI) with bis(hexylsulfinyl)methane (BHxSM) from nitric acid aqueous solution has been investigated. It was found that the extraction increased with increasing nitric acid concentration up 8.5 mol/l and then decreased. Extraction distribution ratio also increased with the bis(hexylsulfinyl)methane concentration. The extraction species appear to be UO₂(NO₃)₂ ^.2BHxSM. The influences of temperature, salting-out concentration and oxalate concentration on the extraction equilibrium were also investigated, and the enthalpy of the extraction reaction was obtained. The result shows that the reaction of uranium(VI) extraction with BHxSM is an exothermic one.     

Determination of uranium in the presence of iron and plutonium by Ti(III) reduction and biamperometric titration

A method is described for the determination of uranium in the presence of iron and plutonium. Ti(III) is used as the reductant in a mixture of H₂SO₄ and HNO₃. Fe(II) and Pu(III) are selectively oxidized by the nitrous acid generated in the reaction between Ti(III) and HNO₃. The U(IV) is determined by titration with K₂Cr₂O₇ using biamperometry to detect the end point. The method is applicable to a variety of nuclear materials encountered at different stages of the nuclear fuel cycle and has no bias. The precision of the method is evaluated at different levels from 100 microgram to 100 milligram. The method is simple, rapid and convenient.     

Electrochemical reduction of uranium(VI) in nitric acid-hydrazine solution on glassy carbon electrode

Electrochemical reduction of U(VI) in nitric acid-hydrazine solution is greatly influenced by the concentration of nitric acid. In low acidity nitric acid solution such as 0.1M (M=mol/dm³) HNO₃, U(VI) was firstly reduced to U(V) and then partially reduced to U(IV). In high acidity nitric acid solution, e.g., 3-6M HNO₃, an electrode process of two-electron transfer was involved in the reduction of U(VI). A higher U(IV) yield could be achieved in nitric acid solution with higher concentration. Hydrazine was very effective in suppressing the reduction of concentrated nitric acid, and the optimal concentration of hydrazine added was 0.075 to 0.15M in 6M HNO₃ This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetics of uranium(VI) extraction by bis(octylsulfinyl)methane

The kinetics and mechanism of uranium(VI) extraction from nitric acid solution by bis(octylsulfinyl)methane (BOSM) are studied with the method of stationary interface cell. The effects of temperature, extractant and nitric acid concentrations are discussed. The results showed that the extraction process is controlled by the following reaction: UO₂(NO₃)₂ + BOSM_(i)⇄_k1 ^k-1UO₂(NO₃)₂BOSM_(i). The variation of enthalpy associated with the extraction is -22.1±2.1 kJ/mol. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Vibrational spectra of uranium (IV) borohydride and uranium (IV) borodeuteride

The compositions of the equilibrium vapors above U(BH₄)₄ and U(BD₄)₄ at 23° were analyzed by mass spectrometry and only monomeric molecular ions, U(BH_4-x)_y⁺, were detected. Infrared spectra for the molecules were recorded in the frequency range 4000-200 cm⁻¹ for vapors contained in a variable path (1–20m) cell at 23°, from inert gas, low temperature matrices and low temperature thin-films. The data collected in this study are correlated with previously recorded data from vapors of U(BH₄)₄ generated at 40–50°. Several spectral features pertinent to the eventual complete vibrational spectroscopic definition of U(BH₄)₄ and U(BD₄)₄ are discussed.     

Anaerobic reduction of a sulfonated azo dye, Congo Red, by sulfate-reducing bacteria

The capacity for anaerobic decolorization of a sulfonated azo dye, Congo Red, by a strain of a sulfate-reducing bacterium was evaluated. After optimizing the growth rate of the bacteria on a simple carbon source and terminal electron acceptor pair, lactate and sulfate, respectively, the effect of the dye concentration on their growth rate was analyzed. The decolorization rate was affected by the dye concentration in the growth medium. The azo-bond cleavage mechanism of reductive decolorization with the formation of benzidine was consistent with the results, as this metabolite was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Several fractions of the culture medium, including lysed cell extracts, were examined for the capacity to reduce the azo dye. This reduction capacity was found in the culture medium in which the cells had previously grown. The results showed that the mechanism of reductive decolorization of this sulfonated azo dye was extracellular and nonenzymatic, consistent with the production of sulfide anion by the microorganisms while growing on lactate and sulfate. The sulfide anions were the cause of the reduction leading to the disappearance of color in the medium. To increase the rate of decolorization, the presence of ferrous ion was also necessary together with the lactate and sulfate substrates.     

Carbon dioxide reduction and carbon monoxide activation employing a reactive uranium(III) complex

The highly reactive, six-coordinate tris-aryloxide U(III) species, [((t-BuArO)3tacn)U] (1) reacts with CO2 in a 2e- reduction to produce CO and a dinuclear U(IV/IV) mu-oxygen bridged complex [{((t-BuArO)3tacn)U}2(mu-O)] (2). This reaction proceeds via a dinuclear CO2-bridged intermediate 3. Also, mononuclear 1 was treated with 1 atm of CO to yield dinuclear [{((t-BuArO)3tacn)U}2(mu-CO)] (4) with a CO ligand bridging two uranium ions in an unprecedented mu:eta1,eta1 fashion. The mixed-valent azido-bridged U(III/IV) complex 5 was synthesized from trivalent 1 and tetravalent [((t-BuArO)3tacn)U(N3)] and serves as an isostructural analogue of triatomic-bridged intermediate 3 as well as an electronic model for mixed-valent 4.