Separation of Trivalent Actinides from High-Active Waste

A typical high-active waste (HAW) arising from reprocessing of (U0.3Pu0.7)C fuel irradiated to the burn-up of 155 GWd/Te in a fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) was characterized. Partitioning of trivalent actinides from HAW was demonstrated using a solvent, 0.2 M n-octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) – 1.2 M tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) in n-dodecane (n-DD), in a mixer settler. The results established quantitative separation of trivalents (Am(III) + Ln(III)) from HAW and recovery (> 99%) using a citric acid-nitric acid formulation. The mutual separation of lanthanides and actinides from the stripped product was studied by using bis(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamic acid (HDEHDGA), synthesized in our laboratory.     

The reductive dimerization of some 1,3-dienes and of 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane: a DFT investigation

Treatment of 1,3-dienes and 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene by chlorotrimethylsilane in the presence of wire of lithium led mainly to reductive dimerization with formation of bis(allylsilane) derivatives. Bis-silyl compounds obtained: from 1,3-butadiene, 1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,6-octadiene (70%); from isoprene, (Z,Z)-2,7-dimethyl-1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,6-octadiene (44%) and 2,6-dimethyl-1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,6-octadiene (19%); from butadiene-isoprene mixture (1:1), 3-methyl-1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,6-octadiene (55%); from 2,3-dimethylbutadiene, (E,E)-2,3,6,7-tetramethyl-1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,6-octadiene (36%), from 1,3-cyclohexadiene, 4,4′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-bicyclohexyl-2,2′-diene (48%); from 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, 1,1′-bi[(S^∗,S^∗)-6-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohepta-2,4-dien-1-yl] (53%). The structure of the various intermediates (radical anion, dianion, silylated radical, silylated anion) has been established by calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory with zero-point energy correction. These results are in accordance with a pathway including the formation of a radical anion, its silylation furnishing to a γ-silylated allylic radical followed by a dimerization reaction in the head to head manner.     

Ultrafast fluorescence resonance energy transfer in a bile salt aggregate: Excitation wavelength dependence

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from Coumarin 153 (C153) to Rhodamine 6G (R6G) in a secondary aggregate of a bile salt (sodium deoxycholate, NaDC) is studied by femtosecond up-conversion. The emission spectrum of C153 in NaDC is analysed in terms of two spectra-one with emission maximum at 480 nm which corresponds to a non-polar and hydrophobic site and another with maximum at ∼530 nm which arises from a polar hydrophilic site. The time constants of FRET were obtained from the rise time of the emission of the acceptor (R6G). In the NaDC aggregate, FRET occurs in multiple time scales — 4 ps and 3700 ps. The 4 ps component is assigned to FRET from a donor (D) to an acceptor (A) held at a close distance (R _DA ∼ 17 ?) inside the bile salt aggregate. The 3700 ps component corresponds to a donor-acceptor distance ∼48 ?. The long (3700 ps) component may involve diffusion of the donor. With increase in the excitation wavelength (λ _ex) from 375 to 435 nm, the relative contribution of the ultrafast component of FRET (∼4 ps) increases from 3 to 40% with a concomitant decrease in the contribution of the ultraslow component (∼3700 ps) from 97 to 60%. The λ _ex dependence is attributed to the presence of donors at different locations. At a long λ _ex (435 nm) donors in the highly polar peripheral region are excited. A short λ _ex (375 nm) ‘selects’ donor at a hydrophobic location.     

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography method for measuring the composition of aquatic humic substances

A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) method was developed to measure the composition of humic substances from river, reservoir, and treated wastewater based on their physicochemical properties. The current method fractionates the humic substances into four well-defined groups based on parallel analyses with a neutral and a cationic HILIC column, using mobile phases of varied compositions and pH. The results indicate that: (i) the proportion of carboxylic acids in the humic substances from terrestrial origins is less than half of that from treated wastewater (Jeddah, KSA), (ii) a higher content of basic compounds was observed in the humic substances from treated wastewater and Ribou Reservoir (Cholet, France) than in the sample from Loire River (France), (iii) a higher percentage of hydrophobic macromolecules were found in the humic substances from Loire River than in the other samples, and (iv) humic substances of treated wastewater contained less ionic neutral compounds (i.e., pK_a 5–9) than the waters from terrestrial origins. The physicochemical property disparity amongst the compounds in each humic substances sample was also evaluated. The humic substances from the lightly humic Loire river displayed the highest disparity, whereas the highly humic Suwannee river (Georgia, USA) showed the most homogeneous humic substances.     

Carbonate extraction-based refining of uranium. Separation of U(VI), Ce(IV), and Ln(III) from aqueous carbonate solutions with methyltrioctylammonium carbonate

The extraction of U(VI), Ce(IV), La(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), and Y(III) from an aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (0.25 mol/L) resulting from oxidative dissolution of U(IV) in the presence of H₂O₂ into a solution of methyltrioctylammonium carbonate (0.25 mol/L) in toluene. It was found that β_{U(VI)/Ln(III)} values vary from ~8 to 3290 as the O : W ratio changes from 2 : 1 to 10 : 1, while β_U(VI)/Ce(IV) varies from ~1.5 to 10, which allows for the extraction separation of U(VI) from Ce(IV) in a 8- to 10-stage counter-current extraction cascade and from Ln(III) in 2- to 3-stage cascade under the same conditions.     

Plasma polymerization anda-C:H film ablation in microwave discharges in methane diluted with argon and hydrogen

Neutral hydrocarbons are observed from a microwave discharge in a fast flow of (A) 0.5–6% methane in argon, (B) 0.5–6% methane in hydrogen, and (C) hydrogen over a previously depositeda-C:H film. System (A) produces polyacetylenic and other hydrocarbons through C₈ by predominantly gas-phase reactions and deposits ana-C: H film. Reactions under conditions (B) and (C) produce hydrocarbon radicals and molecules with masses through 300 that in case (B) arise from both gas-phase reactions and film ablation, and in case (C) from film ablation alone. Proposals are made for the mechanisms of gas-phase polymerization, film deposition, and ablation. Hydrocarbon ions observed downstream from these discharges appear to arise from ionization of neutral species with a distribution determined by subsequent ion-molecule reactions and selective diffusion losses.Work supported by NSF Grant CHE-87-21744.     

Stability of modified surface CaCO3 in the non-polar medium

The adsorption isotherm of methacrylic acid (MAA) and polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) molecules on CaCO₃ were studied. The isotherm of (MAA) adsorption from cyclohexane was found formed from two steps, while that of (PMAA) from ethanol is formed from one step. The effects of surface modification of CaO₃ with (MAA) and (PMAA) in the sedimentation properties in a non-polar medium (cyclohexane) have been studied. It was found that the most stable suspension formed is concerned with monolayer surface coverage for the two adsorptives. Also, studies were made for the rheological properties of concentrated suspension of CaCO₃ modified with (MAA) and (PMAA) in a paraffin oil. The equilibrium flow curves of CaCO₃ modified with (PMAA) suspensions exhibit pseudoplastic characteristics, accompanied by some degree of complex thixotropy, while that modified with (MAA) exerts a thickening effect with rheopexy characteristics.     

Profiling of phospholipids in lipoproteins by multiplexed hollow fiber flow field-flow fractionation and nanoflow liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

This study describes a coupled analytical method to carry out the systematic profiling of phospholipids (PLs) in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from human blood plasma. HDL and LDL of healthy human plasma samples were separated by size and collected on a semi-preparative scale using multiplexed hollow fiber flow field-flow fractionation (MxHF5). Phospholipid mixtures contained in the resulting HDL and LDL fractions were analyzed by shotgun nanoflow liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (nLC–ESI-MS–MS). We utilized a dual scan method for the separation and simultaneous characterization of complicated PL mixtures by nLC–ESI-MS–MS, such that phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) molecules were detected in positive ion mode in a first LC run. In a second LC run, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidic acid (PA) were detected in negative ion mode. In this study, a total of 56 PLs from HDL and 52 PLs from LDL particles were characterized by their molecular structures from data dependent collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments, and their relative abundances were compared.     

Synthesis of 1H‐quinazoline‐2,4‐diones from 2‐aminobenzonitriles by fixation of carbon dioxide with amidine moiety supported polymer at atmospheric pressure

1H‐Quinazoline‐2,4‐diones, which are key intermediates in the synthesis of medicines, were successfully synthesized from 2‐aminobenzonitriles by the fixation of CO₂ in the presence of a polystyrene derivative bearing amidine moiety [poly(amidine)]. A model reaction, that is, the reaction of 2‐aminobenzonitrile ( 1a ) with CO₂ in the presence of N‐methyltetrahydropyrimidine ( MTHP ) revealed that a catalytic amount of MTHP afforded 1H‐quinazoline‐2,4‐dione ( 2a ) quantitatively at atmospheric pressure. Several 1H‐quinazoline‐2,4‐diones ( 2a ‐ 2c ) were successfully synthesized from the corresponding 2‐aminobenzonitriles ( 1a ‐ 1c ) in the presence of poly(amidine). The poly(amidine) could easily be separated from the reaction mixture by filtration and reused in subsequent reactions owing to the heterogeneous system. These demonstrated that poly(amidine) is a useful heterogeneous polymer‐supported reagent for the synthesis of 1H‐quinazoline‐2,4‐diones from CO₂. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 653–657, 2009     

Fractionation of chlorinated and brominated persistent organic pollutants in several food samples by pyrenyl-silica liquid chromatography prior to GC-MS determination

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a column of 2-(1-pyrenyl) ethyldimethylsilylated silica was developed in this work in order to achieve satisfactory and reproducible fractionation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from brominated flame retardants (BFRs) (polybrominated diphenylethers, PBDEs; and polybrominated biphenyls, PBBs). After the study of different chromatographic parameters (mobile phase composition and separation temperature were the most important) an isocratic elution with isooctane:toluene (98:2, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1 mL/min, a temperature of 45 °C, and UV-detection at 225 nm was selected for fractionation of PCBs (time region, 4.0-5.8 min) from PBDEs (5.8-9.0 min) and from PBBs (5.8-11.0 min). The applicability of this method to food samples was demonstrated by fractionating PCBs from PBDEs in three food samples (cheese, milk, and fish). Interferences from PCBs (present in real samples at much higher concentrations than PBDEs) were removed in this way. In addition, by analysing these samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with and without previous fractionation we were able to observe an improvement in detection sensitivity for PBDEs after HPLC fractionation.     

Use of telechelic fluorinated diiodides to obtain well-defined fluoropolymers

Different methods of synthesis involved in the preparation of fluorinated telechelics (or ,ω-difunctional compounds) from ,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes for obtaining well-defined fluoropolymers are described. This review focuses on molecules in which fluorinated chains are located on the backbone and not in a lateral position. First, a bibliographical approach develops the syntheses of ,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes (1) either by chemical transformations of telechelic derivatives or by telomerisation of fluoroolefins with molecular iodine or diiodoperfluoroalkanes. Then, fluorotelechelics are synthesised by means of four different processes: (a) by the chemical change in the presence of metalic salts; (b) from the bismonoaddition of 1 to ω-functional unsaturated derivatives; (c) from the bis(monoethylenation) of 1 followed by difunctionalisation (e.g., nucleophilic substitution); (d) from the coupling reactions between 1 and -iodo-ω-functional reactants. Finally, this review describes how several well-defined fluoropolymers can be produced from these fluorinated telechelics. Their specific chemical, physical and thermal properties are discussed with regard to modern industrial requirements.     

Separation of Thorium(IV) from Associated Elements Using Poly-(Dibenzo-18-Crown-6) and Column Chromatography from Picric Acid Medium

A simple column chromatographic method has been developed for the separation of thorium(IV) from associated elements using poly-(dibenzo-18-crown-6). The separations are carried out from picric acid medium. The adsorption of thorium(IV) was quantitative from 0.0005–0.05M picric acid. Amongst the various eluents tested, 2.0–8.0M HCl, HBr, 1.0–6.0M HClO₄ and 5.0M acetic acid were found to be particularly efficient for the quantitative elution of thorium(IV). The capacity of poly-(dibenzo-18-crown-6) for thorium(IV) was found to be 1.29±0.01 mmol/g of crown polymer. Thorium(IV) was separated from a number of cations in binary mixtures in which most of the cations showed a very high tolerance limit. It was possible to separate thorium(IV) from a number of cations such as lanthanum(III), yttrium(III), uranium(VI), beryllium(II) and barium(II) in multicomponent mixtures. The method was extended to the determination of thorium in monazite sand. It is possible to separate and determine 5 ppm of thorium(IV) by this method. The method is very simple, rapid, selective and has good reproducibility (approximately ±2%).     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Fluorescence of A 1-D Polymeric Zinc(Ii) Complex with Pyrazine-2-Carboxylate as a Bridging Ligand

A one-dimensional chain complex {[Zn(pyz)(SCN)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_∞ (pyz = pyrazine-2-carboxylic anion) has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in an orthorhombic system and the space group is P2 ₁2₁2₁ with a = 6.873(3), b = 9.847(4), c = 16.466(7) Å. The Zn(II) ion is located in a distorted octahedral environment with two oxygen atoms O(3) and O(4) from terminal ligands of two water molecules, another oxygen atom O(1) from the carboxylate group of pyz, and three nitrogen atoms, N(1), and N(2A) from two different pyz and N(3) from a terminal thiocyanate anion, in which a chelated five-membered ring is formed by coordination of O(1) and N(1) to the Zn(1) atom. Therefore, an infinite zigzag chain consisting of Zn(II) ions and pyz anions is constructed and the chains are linked together with hydrogen bonding from coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules. The fluorescence spectra for the bridging ligand Na(pyz) and the complex were measured at room temperature in aqueous solution and in the solid state.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Cytotoxities of Silver (I) Complexes of 2,2′‐Bipyridines and 1,10‐Phenanthroline

The syntheses, characterizations and in vitro cytotoxities of seven soluble silver (I) compounds (1–7) with 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 5,5′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (dmbpy) and 1, 10‐phenanthroline (phen) are described. Two of the complexes, [Ag(dmbpy)(NO₃)] (1) and [Ag(dmbpy)]ClO₄(2), have been structurally established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which reveals the silver(I) atom in compound 1 is in a Y‐shape coordination geometry with two N atoms (av. Ag? N = 227.8 pm) from a chelate dmbpy ligand and an O atom (Ag? O=221.8(4) pm) from a monodentate nitrate. The Ag(I) atom in compound 2 is three‐coordinated by three N atoms, two of which are from a chelate dmbpy, and one from an acetonitrile ligand. The seven compounds showed strong cytotoxities in vitro to both normal and carcinoma cells.     

Determination of synthetic polycyclic musks in water by microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This paper describes a rapid and solvent-free method, microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (MA-HS-SPME), for the extraction of six commonly used synthetic polycyclic musks: galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN), celestolide (ADBI), traseolide (ATII), cashmeran (DPMI) and phantolide (AHMI) from water samples prior to their determination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of various extraction parameters for the quantitative extraction of these analytes by MA-HS-SPME were systematically investigated and optimized. The analytes in a 20-mL water sample (in a 40-mL sample-vial containing 4 g of NaCl) were efficiently extracted by a polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) fiber placed in the headspace when the system was microwave irradiated at 180 W for less than 4 min. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 ng/L, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were less than 0.2 ng/L. A preliminary analysis of wastewater samples revealed that HHCB and AHTN were the two most commonly detected synthetic polycyclic musks; using a standard addition method, their concentration were determined to range from 1.2 to 37.3 ng/L with relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 2 to 6%. The results obtained using this approach are better than those from the conventional oil-bath HS-SPME.     

CHLOROPHYLL a FLUORESCENCE OF GONYAULAX POLYEDRA GROWN ON A LIGHT-DARK CYCLE AND AFTER TRANSFER TO CONSTANT LIGHT

Abstract— The chlorophyll a fluorescence properties of Gonyaulax polyedra cells before and after transfer from a lightdark cycle (LD) to constant dim light (LL) were investigated. The latter display a faster fluorescence transient from the level ‘I’ (intermediary peak) to ‘D’ (dip) to ‘P’ (peak) than the former (3 s as compared to 10 s), and a different pattern of decline in fluorescence from ‘I’ to ‘D’ and from ‘P’ to the steady state level with no clearly separable second wave of slow fluorescence change, referred to as ‘s' (quasi steady state)→‘M’ (maximum) →‘T’ (terminal steady state). The above differences are constant features of cells in LD and LL, and are not dependent on the time of day. They are interpreted as evidence for a greater ratio of photosystem II/photosystem I activity in cells in LL. After an initial photoadaptive response following transfer from LD to LL, the cell absorbance at room temperature and fluorescence emission spectra at 77 K for cells in LL and LD are comparable. The major emission peak is at 685–688 nm (from an antenna Chl a 680, perhaps Chl a-c complex), but, unlike higher plants and other algae, the emission bands at 696–698 nm (from Chl a_II complex, Chl a 685, close to reaction center II) and 710–720 nm (from Chl a₁, complexes, Chl a 695, close to reaction center I) are very minor and could be observed only in the fluorescence emission difference spectra of LL minus LD cells and in the ratio spectra of DCMU-treated to non-treated cells. Comparison of emission spectra of cells in LL and LD suggested that, in LL, there is a slightly greater net excitation energy transfer from the light-harvesting peridinin-Chl a (Chl a 670) complex, fluorescing at 675 nm, to the other antenna chlorophyll a complex fluorescing at 685–688 nm, and from the Chl a., complex to the reaction center II. Comparison of excitation spectra of fluorescence of LL and LD cells, in the presence of DCMU, confirmed that cells in LL transfer energy more extensively from the peridinin-Chl a complex to other Chl a complexes than do cells in LD.     

Pilot‐scale ion‐exchange centrifugal partition chromatography: Purification of sinalbin from white mustard seeds

The purification of p‐hydroxybenzylglucosinolate (sinalbin) on a multigram scale from a crude aqueous extract of white mustard seeds (Sinapis alba var. concerta) was successfully achieved by scaling up a strong ion‐exchange centrifugal partition chromatography (SIXCPC) laboratory procedure. Thus, the one‐step sinalbin purification was performed with 2.35 g of crude extract in ?170 min (830 mg/h) up to 70.3 g in ?160 min (26.3 g/h) by switching from a 200 mL laboratory scale column to a 5.7 L pilot‐scale column. The required biphasic solvent system contained ethyl acetate, n‐butanol, and water in 3:2:5 v/v/v proportions, Aliquat 336® (trioctylmethyl ammonium chloride) was added to the organic stationary phase (80 mM) and acted as ion‐exchanger. Potassium iodide in the aqueous mobile phase (80 mM) was used as sinalbin displacer. The 28.5 mass scale factor arose from the increase in mobile phase flow‐rate (from 2 to 50 mL/min), from the higher mass of injected white mustard seed extract (from 12 to 350 g), and from the calculated productivity (from 830 mg to 26.3 g). These results demonstrate that industry scale production of glucosinolates is easily performed by SIXCPC, thus providing pure reference standards for pharmacology studies.     

Reactions of atomic oxygen [O(3P)] with polymer films

The reactions of polymer films with oxygen atoms are reviewed. Emphasis is on work from this laboratory on polybutadienes having different amounts of 1,4 or 1,2 double bonds and their polyalkenamer homologues, on a polyimide (Kapton), and on a series of polyolefins with increasing fluorine content ranging from polyethylene (PE) to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Interest in this topic stems from a need to understand the mechanism(s) of surface erosion, or etching, that occurs in organic polymers when exposed to the low Earth orbital (LEO) environment, where ground-state atomic oxygen [O(³P)] is the most abundant constituent. The major findings for O atom reactions with the polyalkenamers were: (1) etch rates increase with decrease in -CH=CH-unsaturation, starting with 1,4-polybutadiene and reaching the maximum rate with PE or ethylene-propylene rubber; (2) in polybutadienes having both 1,4 and 1,2 double bonds, the rate of O(³P)-induced etching is lower the higher the 1,2 content; and (3) the reactions are confined to the polymer surface. Relative etch rates for various commercial polymer films (e.g., Kapton, Teflon, PE) exposed to O(³P) downstream from a low-pressure, radio-frequency O₂ plasma were compared with corresponding literature data for films exposed to O(³P) either during a Space Shuttle flight or in the plasma glow (where many species besides O(³P) are present). The use of O₂ discharge reactors – whether exposures are conducted “out of the glow” or “in the glow” – cannot serve as a routine, ground-based simulation of exposures of a polymer to the LEO environment. ESCA analysis of the surfaces of Kapton and other polymers, before and after reaction with O(³P), showed that there is a steady-state competition between surface recession and oxidation. In a series of fluorine-containing polyolefins exposed to O(³P), the maximum oxygen uptake increased regularly with decrease in fluorine content, ranging from a minimum in PTFE to a maximum in PE.     

The insertion and extrusion of heterosulfur bridges. XV. S-bridging of 2,2′-binaphthyl and 1-(2-naphthyl)cyclohexene. Studies on hydrodehalogenation during the reaction

Regioselectivity occurs in the sulfur-bridging reactions of 2,2′-binaphthyl (1) and 1-(2-naphthyl)cyclohexene (7) by means of hydrogen sulfide and a chromia-alumina-magnesia catalyst (designated I) in a flow apparatus at 550°. Thus, 1 gives a higher yield (6.1%) of dinaphtho[1,2–6:2′,l'-d]thiophene from 1,1′-bridging than of dinaphtho[1,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene (3.4%) from l,3′-bridging. No product expected from 3,3′-bridging was identified. Substrate 7 undergoes both dehydrogenation and bridging to yield 2-phenylnaphthalene (8%), benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene (9%) from alpha bridging, and benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]thiophene (3%) from beta bridging into the naphthalene ring. Exploratory studies showed that either sulfided catalyst I or a sulfided molybdenum( VI ) oxide-alumina-cobalt( II ) oxide catalyst ( II ) effects hydrodehalogenation of various monohalo- and polyhaloarenes (where halo, X, is chloro or bromo) at 450–550°. In the biphenyl, phenanthrene, naphthalene, and pyrene systems, halogen was lost either under sulfur-bridging conditions or under hydrogenolysis conditions, i.e. with methanol as a reactant. For every substrate the parent arene was isolated or identified as a reaction product. In selected experiments, acid HX was also identified in the effluent. Use of hydrogen sulfide as a reactant led to formation of dibenzothiophene and phenanthro[4,5-bcd]thiophene as main products in the biphenyl and phenanthrene systems, respectively; while use of methanol as a reactant gave small amounts of methyl bromide (for X = Br) and methylarenes.