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.     

Ion/Molekülreaktionen negativ geladener KomplexeSchiffscher Basen mit potentiellen Ligandmolekülen in der Gasphase

Ion/molecule reactions of four coordinateSchiff base complexes under negative ion chemical ionization conditions have been studied. The complex metal ions consisted of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II).Schiff base ligands with different donor strengths were employed. The gas mixtures used contained 90% methane and 10% of the gases O₂, NO or CO. The spectra showed intense molecular negative ions, formed by secondary electron capture processes. Secondary ions were formed via ion/molecule reactions between the parent molecular negative ion and added gas molecules to giveMLX ^–,X=O₂, NO, CO;L=Schiff base ligand,M=Co(II) or Ni(II). Consistent with former investigations, secondary ion formation was not found for the copper compounds. Influence of the central metal ion as well as the ligand donor strength on the ion/molecule reactions are discussed. From the results obtained a mechanism of the secondary ion formation is suggested.

     

Proportionality of intrinsic heat of transport to standard entropy of hydration for aqueous ions

Intrinsic ionic heats of transport q _o ^* (ion) and ionic heats of transport Q _o ^* (ion) have been evaluated for 53 aqueous ions at infinite dilution at 25°C using the reduction rule proposed by the authors and the limiting laws of Agar, and of Helfand and Kirkwood without electrophoretic terms. q _o ^* (ion) have been found to correlate linearly with the standard ionic entropies of hydration for the 38 ions investigated. The correlation yields three distinctive proportionality constants indicating that the ions may be divided into three distinctive groups. Although the sign of Q _o ^* (ion) is not definite, all values of q _o ^* (ion) are positive. For 17 ions Q _o ^* (ion) are in good agreement with TS _o ^* (ion). Here, S _o ^* (ion) is the absolute standard ionic entropy of transport which can be obtained from potentiometric measurements on cells. The values of S _o ^* (ion) were determined by Agar, and recently by Lin and coworkers.     

Utilisation d'electrolyte solide polymere dans les piles a combustibles alcalines

The use of a solid polymer electrolyte in alkaline fuel cells. The objective of this research was to develop a new type of cheap anion exchange membranes for use in alkaline fuel cells. The polyelectrolyte anion exchange membrane was prepared by grafting quaternary amines (DABCO, TEA) on the epichlorhydrine polymer, consolidated by reticulation. Obtained ionic conductivities are over 10⁻² S.cm⁻¹, with a concentration of positive ionic sites of a few milli-equivalents per gram of material. Measured anionic transport numbers are greater than 0.90. Membranes, which can absorb 30 to 50% of water, are quasi impervious to gases such as H₂ and 0₂ and can operate at temperatures up to 120°C. Alkaline fuel cells assembled with both types of membranes showed good performances. Particular attention was devoted to the membrane-electrode interface.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Nitration of Chlorobenzene with Nitric Acid

The rate of homogeneous nitration of chlorobenzene with 70-90% nitric acid is proportional to the chlorobenzene concentration and activity of nitric acid. The existence of linear correlations between the rate constants k _2ap and the acidity function -H and between logk ^* _2ap values (calculated using NO₂ ⁺ concentration) and the acidity function -(H _R + logaH ₂O) indicates that the nitrating species is nitronium ion generated by reaction of H₃O⁺ with nitric acid monohydrate. Increase in the energy of activation with rise in water concentration is explained by increase of H for equilibrium formation of nitronium ion.     

FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy study of di-urethanesil hybrids doped with Mg(CF3SO3)2

In the present work di-urethane cross-linked poly(oxyethylene) (POE)/siloxane hybrids (di-urethanesils) incorporating magnesium triflate (Mg(CF₃SO₃)₂) with 100 ≥ n ≥ 2 (where n, composition, is the molar ratio of oxyethylene repeat units per Mg²⁺ ion) have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy to elucidate the Mg²⁺/POE, Mg²⁺/urethane, Mg²⁺/CF₃SO₃⁻ and hydrogen bonding interactions. The Mg²⁺ ions bond to POE chains and to the carbonyl oxygen atoms of the urethane linkages over the whole range of salt content studied. A crystalline POE/Mg(CF₃SO₃)₂ complex of unknown stoichiometry is formed at n = 5. “Free” and weakly coordinated CF₃SO₃⁻ ions are present in all the materials examined. Contact ion pairs emerge at n ≤ 20 and higher ionic aggregates appear at n ≤ 5.     

Conductive and optical properties of PPV modified by N+ ion implantation

In this article, a soluble poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′‐methyl)butoxy]‐p‐phenylene vinylene (MMB‐PPV) was synthesized by dehydrochlorination reaction and the MMB‐PPV film was implanted by nitrogen ions (N⁺) with the ion dose and energy in the range of 3.8 × 10¹⁵ to 9.6 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm² and 15–35 keV, respectively. The surface conductivity, optical absorption, optical band gap (E_g) of modified MMB‐PPV film were studied, and the third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) as well as its environmental stability of modified MMB‐PPV film were also measured by degenerate four‐wave mixing system. The results showed that the surface conductivity of MMB‐PPV film was up to 3.2 × 10^?2 S when ion implantation was performed with the energy of 35 keV at an ion dose of 9.6 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm², which was seven order of magnitude higher than that of the pristine film. UV‐Vis absorption spectra demonstrated that the optical absorption of MMB‐PPV film was enhanced gradually in the visible region followed by a red shift of optical absorption threshold and the E_g value was reduced from 2.12 eV to 1.59 eV with the increase of ion dose and energy. The maximum χ⁽³⁾ value of 2.45 × 10^?8 esu for modified MMB‐PPV film was obtained with the ion energy of 20 keV at an ion dose of 3.8 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm², which was almost 33 times larger than that for pristine film. In comparison to the reduction of 17% in the χ⁽³⁾ value of pristine MMB‐PPV film, the maximum χ⁽³⁾ value of 2.45 × 10^?8 esu for modified MMB‐PPV film decreased by over 5.3% when they had been exposed under the same ambient conditions for 90 days. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 2072–2077, 2010     

Fluorometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Fluoride Ion Using an Expanded Porphyrin

A highly selective and sensitive method of fluorometry is described for determination of the fluoride ion at the parts per billion level via the ion-pair complex formation of the fluoride ion with an expanded prophyrin [2,23-diethyl-8,17-bis(2-ethoxycarbonylethyl)-3,7,12,13,18,22-hexamethylsapphyrin (H₃sap)]. The ion-pair complex gives out an enhanced fluorescence intensity at 680 nm on excitation at 450 nm. Since the present method is based on a direct reaction of the fluoride ion with the sappyrin, a 200-fold amount of the aluminum (III) ion [10⁻⁴M (M = mol dm⁻³)] and a 2000-fold amount of the iron(III) ion (10⁻³M) over the fluoride ion did not interfere with determination of the fluoride ion at concentrations as low as 5 × 10⁻⁷M in the presence of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-teraacetic acid. The proposed method was applied to determination of the fluoride ion in various water samples (tap water, river water, rain water, underground water, and hot spring water) and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Single Lithium‐Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes Based on a Super‐Delocalized Polyanion

A novel single lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) conducting polymer electrolyte is presented that is composed of the lithium salt of a polyanion, poly[(4‐styrenesulfonyl)(trifluoromethyl(S‐trifluoromethylsulfonylimino)sulfonyl)imide] (PSsTFSI^?), and high‐molecular‐weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The neat LiPSsTFSI ionomer displays a low glass‐transition temperature (44.3 °C; that is, strongly plasticizing effect). The complex of LiPSsTFSI/PEO exhibits a high Li‐ion transference number (t_Li⁺=0.91) and is thermally stable up to 300 °C. Meanwhile, it exhibits a Li‐ion conductivity as high as 1.35×10^?4 S cm^?1 at 90 °C, which is comparable to that for the classic ambipolar LiTFSI/PEO SPEs at the same temperature. These outstanding properties of the LiPSsTFSI/PEO blended polymer electrolyte would make it promising as solid polymer electrolytes for Li batteries.     

Formation and reactivity of metal carbonyl anions in the gas phase

The reactions of metal carbonyl anions (M(CO)_n^?; M = Cr, Mn and Fe; n = 1–3) with n-heptane, water and methanol were studied with use of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer equipped with an external ion source. The M(CO)_n^? ions were formed in the FT-ICR cell by collision-induced dissociation of the most abundant primary ion generated by electron impact of the appropriate metal carbonyl compound present in the external ion source. The M(CO)_n^? ions were allowed subsequently to undergo non-reactive collisions with argon in order to remove possible excess internal/translational energy prior to the ion/molecule reaction. Only the Cr(CO)₃^?, Mn(CO)₃^? and Fe(CO)₂^? ions react with n-heptane. This reaction proceeds by loss of H₂ from the collision complex and the Cr(CO)₃^? and Fe(CO)₂^? ions react about three times more efficiently than the Mn(CO)₃^? ion. With water, Mn(CO)^? and Fe(CO)₃^? are unreactive, whereas the other ions react by loss of one or two CO molecules from the collision complex. The rate of the reaction with water decreases in the order Cr(CO)₃^?, Fe(CO)₂^?, Cr(CO)₂^?, Fe(CO)^?, Mn(CO)₃^? and Mn(CO)₂^?. With methanol, the Cr(CO)₂^? ion reacts by loss of two CO molecules from the collision complex, whereas loss of one CO molecule and elimination of CO + H₂ occur in the reaction with Cr(CO)₃^?. Competing loss of CO and one or two H₂ molecules occurs in the reactions of Mn(CO)₃^? and Fe(CO)₂^? with methanol. The rate of the reaction with methanol decreases in the order Cr(CO)₃^?, Fe(CO)₂^?, Cr(CO)₂^? and Mn(CO)₃^?.     

Alkaline Hydrolysis of Nitroglycerin and Activation of Luminol Chemiluminescence

Alkaline hydrolysis of nitroglycerin (G) was studied using the chemiluminescent reaction of the hydrolysis products with 4-dimethylaminophthalhydrazide (L). The chemiluminescence kinetics follows the pseudo-unimolecular law, with the rate constant k ₁ proportional to [OH^–]. The apparent bimolecular constant k ₂ = k ₁/[OH^–] is equal to 0.021 l mol^–1 s^–1. The chemiluminescence quantum yield per one nitroglycerin molecule _G = (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10^–3 photons per one molecule ([G₀] [L]), and the reactant chemiluminescence quantum yield upon excitation by species X formed from G in the course of hydrolysis is (2.6 × 0.5) × 10^–2 photons per molecule ([G] [L₀]]). Hence, it follows that the hydrolysis of 100 nitroglycerin molecules results in about five X molecules exciting chemiluminescence. The effects of temperature, ionic strength, and composition of the solution on k ₂ were studied. Quantum-chemical calculation on the interaction of ^– ion with G molecule shows a possibility for peroxynitrite formation upon approach of the ion to the nitro group within the NO₂ plane. If the approach occurs not in the NO₂ plane, the conventional hydrolysis mechanism with substitution at nitrogen is realized.     

Chemical discrimination of multilayered paint cross sections for potential forensic applications using time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) equipped with a bismuth imaging source and an argon gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) was used to image polished cross‐sections of four automotive multilayer paint samples. Secondary ion mass spectrometry chemical imaging of the individual layers was possible after a GCIB sputter ion dose of (7 × 10¹⁵) ions/cm² was applied for the removal of polishing residue, at which point the chemical composition of the individual clear coats could be distinguished using principal components analysis. For the differentiation of the four clear coat chemistries, only four secondary ion peaks were necessary; C₂H₅O⁺ (m/z 45.04), C₉H₉NO₂⁺ (m/z 163.09), and C₁₀H₁₁NO₂⁺ (m/z 177.10) that appeared to be fragments of the carbamate‐based clear coat, and C₇H₁₁⁺ (m/z 95.09) that was strongly associated with the polyurethane‐based clear coat. Clear identification of the four paint samples based on this short peak list highlights the strength of the SIMS technique as a potential forensic approach to discriminate automotive paints and suggests that many more variables could be included in the multivariate and statistical analysis to differentiate a wider range of clear coat chemistries.     

Linearity of the instrumental intensity scale in TOF‐SIMS—a VAMAS interlaboratory study

A VAMAS interlaboratory study involving 21 time‐of‐flight SIMS instruments from nine countries has been conducted to evaluate the linearity of the instrumental intensity scale and procedures for intensity correction. Analysts were supplied, by National Physical Laboratory (NPL), with a protocol for analysis (closely aligned with ISO 23830) together with a reference material of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape. The primary ion beam current is varied to provide secondary ion intensities that span the linear to nonlinear regime. The natural carbon isotope ratios ¹²C_xF_y⁺/¹³C¹²C_x?1F_y⁺ for five peaks are used to evaluate the linearity, without a need to measure the ion beam current. A method is given for determining the linearity as a function of secondary ion intensity, with and without dead time correction. It is found that single ion counting statistics is closely obeyed, and the linearity achievable is generally excellent with careful application of dead time correction. Three quarters of instruments in the study achieved better than 95% linearity at a count rate of 0.8 measured counts per pulse, equivalent to 1.6 secondary ions impinging the detector per primary ion pulse. We discuss factors affecting linearity and the precise application of dead time correction and give guidance for practical analysis. This includes suboptimal detector efficiency, inhomogeneous intensities across the rastered area, inadequate charge compensation, and the choice of peak integration limits. The interlaboratory study shows that the method to determine linearity is generally applicable, robust and provides an excellent basis for the development of an ISO standard. © Crown copyright 2011. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ study of the interaction between <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl chloride and aluminum activated with liquid In-Ga eutectic

The interaction between tert-butyl chloride and activated aluminum was studied by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy near room temperature (18–25°C). A long induction period of ∼240–260 min was observed. The ionic aluminum chloride complexes [Al _n Cl_3n+1]⁻ (n = 1, 2) and the molecular species AlCl₃ were identified at the activated aluminum/tert-butyl chloride interface during the reaction. The formation of the ion in the AlCl₄⁻ ion in the liquid medium and the presence of the same ion and a molecular AlCl₃-tert-butyl chloride complex in the resinous products of the reaction were confirmed by ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The reaction products were analyzed qualitatively by GC/MS. The reactivities of activated aluminum and anhydrous aluminum chloride toward tert-butyl chloride under the same conditions were compared. A distinctive feature of the interaction activated aluminum and tert-butyl chloride is the dominant formation of the AlCl₄⁻ ion. By contrast, the interaction between aluminum chloride and tert-butyl chloride yields the polynuclear ion Al₂Cl₇⁻ and, likely, Al₃Cl₁₀⁻.     

The [CH2CHOH.+, CH3CHO] solvated enol radical cation

The bimolecular reaction of the CH₂CHOH^.+ enol ion (m/z 44) with acetaldehyde gives a strongly dominant product,m/z 45, formed mainly by proton transfer from the ion to the molecule. The abundance of the product coming from a H^. abstraction reaction from the neutral, albeit more exothermic, is negligible. In order to explain this result, the long lived [CH₂CHOH^.+, CH₃CHO] solvated ion was generated by reaction of the CH₂CHOH^.+ enol ion with (CH₃CHO) _n in the cell of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The structure of this solvated ion was clearly established. Labeling indicates that [CH₂CHOH^.+, CH₃CHO], upon low energy collisions, reacts by H^. abstraction more rapidly than by H⁺ transfer to the neutral moiety. This shows that the entropic factors are determinant when the enol ion reacts directly with acetaldehyde.     

A mass spectrometry and DFT study of pyrithione complexes with transition metals in the gas phase

2‐Mercaptopyridine N ‐oxide (pyrithione, PTOH) along with several transition metal ions forms coordination compounds displaying notable biological activities. Gas‐phase complexes formed between pyrithione and manganese (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), copper (II), and zinc (II) were investigated by infusion in the electrospray source of a quadrupole‐time of flight mass spectrometer. Remarkably, positive ion mode spectra displayed the singly charged metal adduct ion [C₁₀H₈MN₂O₂S₂]²⁺ ([M(PTO)₂]^+• or [M(DPTO)]^+•), where DPTO is dipyrithione, 2,2′‐dithiobis(pyridine N ‐oxide), among the most abundant peaks, implying a change in the oxidation state of whether the metal ion or the ligands. In addition, doubly charged ions were recognized as metal adduct ions containing DPTO ligands, [M(DPTO)_n]²⁺. Generation of [M(PTO)₂]^+• / [M(DPTO)]^+• could be traced by CID of [M(DPTO)₂]²⁺, by observation of the sequential losses of a charged (PTO⁺) and a radical (PTO^•) deprotonated pyrithione ligand. The fragmentation pathways of [M(PTO)₂]^+• / [M(DPTO)]^+• were compared among the different metal ions, and some common features were noticed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to study the structures of the observed adduct ions, and especially, to decide in the adduct ion [M(PTO)₂]^+• / [M(DPTO)]^+• whether the ligands are 2 deprotonated pyrithiones or a single dipyrithione as well as the oxidation state of the metal ion in the complex. Characterization of gas‐phase pyrithione metal ion complexes becomes important, especially taking into account the presence of a redox‐active ligand in the complexes, because redox state changes that produce new species can have a marked effect on the overall toxicological/biological response elicited by the metal system.     

Structural and Electrochemical Study of Vanadium‐Doped TiO2 Ramsdellite with Superior Lithium Storage Properties for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Titanium‐oxide‐based materials are considered attractive and safe alternatives to carbonaceous anodes in Li‐ion batteries. In particular, the ramsdellite form TiO₂(R) is known for its superior lithium‐storage ability as the bulk material when compared with other titanates. In this work, we prepared V‐doped lithium titanate ramsdellites with the formula Li_0.5Ti_1?xV_xO₂ (0≤x≤0.5) by a conventional solid‐state reaction. The lithium‐free Ti_1?xV_xO₂ compounds, in which the ramsdellite framework remains virtually unaltered, are easily obtained by a simple aqueous oxidation/ion‐extraction process. Neutron powder diffraction is used to locate the Li channel site in Li_0.5Ti_1?xV_xO₂ compounds and to follow the lithium extraction by difference‐Fourier maps. Previously delithiated Ti_1?xV_xO₂ ramsdellites are able to insert up to 0.8 Li⁺ per transition‐metal atom. The initial gravimetric capacities of 270 mAh g^?1 with good cycle stability under constant current discharge conditions are among the highest reported for bulk TiO₂‐related intercalation compounds for the threshold of one e^? per formula unit.     

Radiochemical studies of the sorption behavior of strontium and barium

The sorption behavior of strontium and barium on kaolinite, bentonite and chlorite-illite mixed clay was studied by radioanalytical techniques using the batch method.⁹⁰Sr (29.1 y) and¹³³Ba (10.5 y) were used as radiotracers. Characterization of the solid matrices was done by FTIR and XRD spectrometries and specific surface area measurements. Synthetic groundwater was used as the aqueous phase. The variation of the distribution ratioR _d, as a function of metal ion loading was examined. The sorption isotherms were fitted to various isotherm models. The sorption energies were calculated to be in the range of 8–10 kJ/mol suggesting an ion exchange type of sorption mechanism. In detailed experiments, chlorite-illite mixed clay was first presaturated with K⁺, Sr²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺ ions, respectively, prior to sorption studies with Ba²⁺ ions. The results of Ca²⁺ pretreated chlorite-illite were very similar to those of natural chlorite-illite, suggesting that the Ba²⁺ ion exchanges primarily with the Ca²⁺ ion on the clay minerals.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Nd~(3+)-Doped Indium-sodium Tetraborate Glasses

Glasses in the system xNd₂O₃·(10?x)In₂O₃·90Na₂B₄O₇ (with x=0, 1, 3, 5 mol%) were fabricated via a melt quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the quenched glasses was confirmed by X‐ray powder diffraction studies. The infrared spectra of the glasses show no boroxol ring formation in the structure of these glasses. Optical absorption of glasses shows that the transition ⁴I_9/2→⁴G_5/2+²G_7/2 is more intense than the other transitions, which shifts from 580 nm (for the free Nd³⁺ ion ) to 584 nm. The peak in fluorescence spectra for x=5 mol% Nd³⁺ in the region 800–900 nm under excitation wavelength 584 nm was attributed to ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2 transition. Differential thermal analysis for (x=5 mol% Nd³⁺) shows glass transition (ca. 600°C) and crystallization temperatures (ca. 1155, 975°C). The scanning electron microscopy studies indicate the amorphous state of glass sample.     

Quantum-chemical study on nitrosonium complexes of Bi- and polycyclic aromatic compounds

The affinities of bi- and polycyclic aromatic compounds for nitrosonium ion (A_NO⁺ A_{NO^ + } ) were calculated at the RI-MP2/L1 and DFT/PBE/3z levels of theory. Both methods gave generally similar geometric parameters of nitrosonium complexes. The formation of pincer complexes in which the NO⁺ ion is linked to two aromatic rings is more energetically favorable than the formation of analogous complexes through external binding of NO⁺ to one aromatic ring. Linear correlations were found between the calculated A_NO⁺ A_{NO^ + } values of aromatic compounds and experimental equilibrium constants for the reactions of these compounds with nitrosonium ion in solution. Structural peculiarities of the examined nitrosonium complexes are discussed.