Solubilities of rare earth lodates in aqueous and aqueous alcoholic solvent mixtures

The solubilities of thirteen iodates of rare earth metals in aqueous and aqueous alcoholic solvent mixtures at 25°C were measured. Methanol and ethanol were used as the alcoholic components, and the alcohol concentrations in solvent mixtures were between 0–40 mass percent. From the solubilities measured in this study and the published data, the recommended solubility values of eleven iodates of rare earth metals [Ln(IO₃)₃: Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb] in water at 25°C were decided by applying the guidelines of the IUPAC Solubility Data Project, and the solubilities of two iodates [Ln(IO₃)₃: Ce and Lu] are designated as tentative values. The change in solubility of lanthanide iodates in aqueous and aqueous alcoholic solvent mixtures as a function of lanthanide atomic number is discussed. The logarithm of the solubility decreases almost linearly with the reciprocal of the dielectric constant of the solvent mixture, as expected from Born's equation and its modifications.Presentation to First International Symposium on Solubility Phenomena, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, August 21–23, 1984.     

Self-assemblies of luminescent rare earth compounds in capsules and multilayers

This review addresses luminescent rare earth compounds assembled in microcapsules as well as in planar films fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method and in self-assembled monolayers. Chemical precipitation, electrostatic, van der Waals interactions and covalent bonds are involved in the assembly of these compounds. Self-organized ring patterns of rare earth complexes in Langmuir monolayers and on planar surfaces with stripe patterns, as well as fluorescence enhancement due to donor–acceptor pairs, microcavities, enrichment of rare earth compounds, and shell protection against water are described. Recent information on the tuning of luminescence intensity and multicolors by the excitation wavelength and the ratio of rare earth ions, respectively, are also reviewed. Potential applications of luminescent rare earth complex assemblies serving as biological probes, temperature and gas sensors are pointed out.     

A Potential Method Using Ge{iPrNC[N(SiMe3)2]NiPr}2, (Et3Si)2Te and Anhydrous Hydrazine for Germanium Tellurides

A germanium(II)‐guanidine derivative of formula Ge{iPrNC[N(SiMe₃)₂]NiPr}₂ ( 1 ) was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction method. Thermal property was also studied to identify its thermal stability and volatility. More importantly, compound 1 was synthesized to develop a new method for germanium tellurides, where anhydrous hydrazine was introduced to prompt the activity of germanium(II) guanidines (or derivatives) towards (Et₃Si)₂Te. Solution reaction of compound 1 , (Et₃Si)₂Te, and anhydrous hydrazine was investigated to pre‐identify the feasibility of this combination for ALD process. The EDS data of the black precipitate from this reaction verified the potential of this method to manufacture germanium tellurides.     

A study on the dispersion, preparation, characterization and photo-degradation of polypropylene traced with rare earth oxides

This research work deals with the effect of rare earth oxides on the PP matrix with respect to the thermal and mechanical properties and to the photo-degradation under UV irradiation exposure. The rare earth oxides are used as tracers for the identification of polymer materials, in order to have an economically efficient recycling and high speed automatic sorting of plastic wastes. The addition of 0.1 wt% of such particles of a micrometric size has a minor effect on the mechanical and thermal properties of the traced materials, as well as on the photo-degradation of the polymer after UV irradiation exposure. For 1 wt% tracer content, before UV irradiation treatment, the melting and crystallization temperatures as well as the thermal stability of the PP matrix are slightly increased, whereas the elongation at break decreases from 10 to 50% for a cross-head speed of 250 mm/min. However, the addition of 1 wt% of CeO₂ improves the photo-degradation resistance of the PP matrix to UV exposure due to the UV light screening effects offered by these particles. The SEM images together with the results obtained from image processing show a homogenous dispersion of tracers in the PP matrix.     

Thermal and spectroscopic studies of terbium(III) and dysprosium(III) complexes with piperidin-4-ones

Terbium(III) and dysprosium(III) nitrate complexes with variously substituted 2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-ones (L¹)-(L¹⁰) of general formula [Ln(L)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂]NO₃ have been synthesized. These complexes have been characterized by analytical, spectral and thermal studies. Molar conductance data show that these complexes are 1:1 electrolytes. The presence of two coordinated water molecules is confirmed by thermal and infrared spectral studies. IR spectral data indicate that piperidin-4-ones, in spite of having two coordinating sites, are monodentate, coordinating only through ring nitrogen. The IR and conductance data reveal the presence of two bidentate and one ionic nitrate groups. The nephelauxetic ratio (β), covalency factor (b^1/2) and Sinha’s parameter (δ) evaluated from electronic spectral data of dysprosium(III) complexes indicate a little covalency in metal-ligand bonding.     

珍珠中痕量稀土元素的ICP-MS测定及其分布特性

探讨了等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)分析珍珠样品中稀土元素的基体效应及多原子离子干扰,并采用干扰校正因子进行有效的校正,以In-Rh双内标校正体系进行分析信号动态漂移的监控和补偿,建立了珍珠样品中稀土元素的ICP-MS分析方法。方法的定量检出限为0．1～0．5ng／g,RSD≤15％(n=5)。所建立的方法用于标准物质Gui-1、Gui-2、Gui-3及人工养殖珍珠的分析。珍珠中稀土元素的分布与分馏特性与其生长环境密切相关。     

Development of the FTIR properties of nano-structure silica gel doped with different rare earth elements,prepared by sol-gel route

Structural characteristics of pure silica gel (silica-xerogel, SiO₂) and silica gel doped with some rare earth elements (REEs) such as, praseodymium Pr³⁺, and Europium Eu³⁺, Erbium Er³⁺ and Holmium Ho³⁺ ions, with different concentrations ranging from 1 up to 6%, in the form of monolith materials were prepared by sol-gel technique, Using tetra-ethoxysilane as precursor materials, which are of particular interest for sol-gel integrated optics applications. Some structural features of sol-gel derived monolith are analyzed, namely the structure of nano-particle momolith samples, based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). We show that the XRD spectra of α-crystobalite are obtained for the pure samples at 1100°C and even by doping with the four REEs ions.     

Microwave digestion-ICP-MS for elemental analysis in ambient airborne fine particulate matter: rare earth elements and validation using a filter borne fine particle certified reference material

NIST standard reference material SRM 2783 was employed to validate a high temperature, high pressure, two-stage microwave assisted acid digestion procedure using HNO₃, HF and H₃BO₃ developed for the analysis of trace elements (including rare earths) in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) prior to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This method quantitatively solubilized Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sb, Cd, Cs, Ba, Pb, Th, U and several rare earth elements (REEs) (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, Er, Sm and Eu) from SRM 1648 and SRM 2783. A small amount of HF in the first stage was required to dissolve silicates necessitating the corresponding addition of H₃BO₃ in second stage to dissolve fluoride precipitates of Mg, La, Ce and Th. The optimized microwave dissolution—ICP-MS method detected Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Pb, Th and U at trace to ultra-trace levels in ambient airborne fine particles from three sites in North Carolina. La to light lanthanide signature ratios suggested that soil and motor vehicles are the dominant REE sources in SRM 2783 and PM_2.5 samples collected during this study.     

1,3-Bis(alkylimino)isoindolinates of rare earth metals: Synthesis,molecular structure and photoluminescence

The rare earth metal isoindolinates Ln(ⁱPrL)₃ (Ln = Sc (1), Y (2), Eu (3), Dy (4), Yb (5); ⁱPrL = 1,3-bis(isopropylimino)isoindolinate anion) and [(MeL)Ce]₂(μ-MeL)₄ (6) (MeL = 1,3-bis(methylimino)isoindolinate anion) were synthesized by reactions of the amides Ln[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃ with 1,3-bis(isopropylimino)isoindoline (ⁱPrLH) or 1,3-bis(methylimino)isoindoline (MeLH), respectively. The X-ray diffraction study revealed that in monomeric molecules of the isopropyl-substituted compounds 2 and 4 the cations Ln³⁺ are η²-coordinated by three isoindolinate ligands. The methyl-substituted 6 exists in a crystal as a dimer containing two terminal η²-coordinated ligands and four bridging isoindolinate ligands two of which are bonded to Ce atoms in η³ fashion (η:η:η-N,N,N) but two others in η⁴ manner (η:η²:η-N,N,N). All the obtained complexes in solutions exhibited ligand-centered photoluminescence, the spectra of which consist of one broadened band with a maximum at 400–450 nm.     

In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant evaluation of rare earth metal Schiff base complexes derived from threonine

Six novel Ln(III) Schiff base complexes were synthesized using rare earth metals with threonine and 5‐bromosalicylaldehyde, namely Pr(III), Sm(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Er(III) and Yb(III) Schiff bases. These complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductivity, Fourier transform infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies, and thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis. The general formula of the complexes is [Ln(L)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)].NO₃ (L = Schiff base ligand). The spectroscopic data reveal that the Schiff base ligand behaves as a tridentate ligand with ONO donor atoms sequencing towards the central metal ion. An investigation of fluorescence properties of the Sm(III), Er(III) and Tb(III) complexes shows that the Ln(III) ions can be sensitized efficiently by the ligand to some extent. Antimicrobial activity testing indicates that all six complexes exhibit antibacterial and antifungal ability against microbes with broad antimicrobial spectra. In addition, the antioxidant properties of the complexes were also screened. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microwave-assisted extraction of rare earth elements from petroleum refining catalysts and ambient fine aerosols prior to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

A robust microwave-assisted acid digestion procedure followed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed to quantify rare earth elements (REEs) in fluidized-bed catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). High temperature (200 °C), high pressure (200 psig), acid digestion (HNO₃, HF and H₃BO₃) with 20 min dwell time effectively solubilized REEs from six fresh catalysts, a spent catalyst and PM_2.5. This method was also employed to measure 27 non-REEs including Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, Pb and U. Complete extraction of several REEs (Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy and Er) required HF indicating that they were closely associated with the aluminosilicate structure of the zeolite FCC catalysts. Internal standardization using ¹¹⁵In quantitatively corrected non-spectral interferences in the catalyst digestate matrix. Inter-laboratory comparison using ICP-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) demonstrated the applicability of the newly developed analytical method for accurate analysis of REEs in FCC catalysts. The method developed for FCC catalysts was also successfully implemented to measure trace to ultra-trace concentrations of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Eu and Dy in ambient PM_2.5 in an industrial area of Houston, TX.     

The preparation and characterization of carboxylic acid‐coated silica nanoparticles

The preparation of carboxylic acid‐coated silica nanoparticles was investigated. A monolayer of carboxylic acid residues with controllable graft density was anchored to the nanoparticle by a ring‐opening reaction with succinic anhydride. Poly(methacrylic acid) [poly(MAA)] grafted nanoparticles were prepared via a polymerization–deprotection strategy. Tert‐butyl methacrylate was polymerized from the surface of silica nanoparticles in a predictable manner and with excellent control over the molecular weight distribution. Subsequent removal of the tert‐butyl group resulted in poly (MAA) grafted nanoparticles. The polymer nanoparticles were also functionalized with dyes, which may be useful in tracking the particles in biological systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

超亲水-水下超疏油PVDF-g-PAA多孔膜的制备及油水分离性能

采用相反转方法制备了丙烯酸(AA)接枝的超亲水-水下超疏油聚偏氟乙烯膜(PVDF-g-PAA),通过加入一定量的聚乙烯吡咯烷酮获得可用于油水分离的多孔聚偏氟乙烯膜.多孔聚偏氟乙烯膜具有较好的抗油污染性能及较高的力学强度,可以快速高效地分离油水混合体系和乳化油水体系,分离性质稳定,多次使用后对油水混合物的分离效率在98%以上,对油水乳化液的分离效率在91%以上,可广泛应用于油水混合体系和乳化油水体系的油水分离.     

Assembly, crystal structure, and luminescent properties of three-dimensional (10,3)-a netted rare earth coordination polymers

Solid complexes [REL(NO3)3]n with novel (10,3)-a type three-dimensional networks structure have been assembled using rare earth nitrates and an amide type semirigid tripodal bridging ligand, 1,3,5-tris {[(2′-benzylaminoformyl)phenoxyl]methyl}benzene (L), as building blocks. The complexes were crys- tallized in the orthorhombic system with chiral space group P212121. The whole structure consists of an infinite array of trigonal RE(III) ions bridged by tridentate ligands, and a novel (10,3)-a net is formed, which is very uncommon in the rare earth complexes. At room temperature, the Sm(III), Eu(III), Tb(III), Dy(III) complexes all exhibited characteristic luminescence emissions of central metal ions under UV light excitation.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly random copolymer of ϵ-caprolactone and D,L-lactide using rare earth catalyst

Highly random copolymers of ϵ-caprolactone (CL) and D ,L -lactide (LA) were synthesized by a new catalyst system, rare earth chloride–propylene oxide (PO) system. In the presence of propylene oxide, all rare earth chlorides tested are highly effective for the copolymerization. The influences of reaction conditions on the copolymerization catalyzed by the NdCl₃-5PO system have been investigated in detail. The reactivity ratios of ϵ-caprolactone and D ,L -lactide were determined and show that the copolymerization with this new rare earth catalyst is closer to ideal copolymerization than reported for other catalysts. The microstructure of copolymer analyzed by ¹³C-NMR shows that the monomer units in the copolymer is near to completely random distribution with a short average monomer sequence length. The DSC measurement confirms the high randomness of the chain structure. The mechanism studied by NMR indicates that the rare earth alkoxide generated by the reaction of rare earth chloride with propylene oxide initiates the copolymerization, and then proceeds via a “coordination-insertion” mechanism with acyl-oxygen bond cleavage of CL and LA. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemical reactivity assay and surface characterization of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) microfiltration membrane (“Durapore DVPP”)

Surface functionalization of a commercially available poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) filtration membrane (Millipore DVPP) was performed using organic synthesis at the solid–liquid interface. Hydroxyl groups present on this hydrophilic membrane were activated by reaction with several activating and coupling agents prior to the covalent grafting of lysine. Transamination was used as well as a grafting method. The apparent surface of the PVDF membrane was characterized using SEM and XPS techniques before and after the wet chemical treatments. On the other hand, chemical reactivity of the open surface was assayed by the coupling to tritiated lysine and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) of the radioactivity associated to the samples.     

Effect of MMT,SiO2, CaCO3, and PTFE nanoparticles on the morphology and crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The crystallization and melting behaviors of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with small amount of nanoparticles (1 wt %), such as montmorillonite (MMT), SiO₂, CaCO₃, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), directly prepared by melt‐mixing method were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarizing optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nanoparticle structure and the interactions between PVDF molecule and nanoparticle surface predominated the crystallization behavior and morphology of the PVDF. Small amount addition of these four types of nanoparticles would not affect the original crystalline phase obtained in the neat PVDF sample (α phase), but accelerated the crystallization rate because of the nucleation effect. In these four blend systems, MMT or PTFE nanoparticles could be well applied for PVDF nanocomposite preparation because of stronger interactions between particle surface and PVDF molecules. The nucleation enhancement and the growth rate of the spherulites were decreased in the order SiO₂ > CaCO₃ > PTFE > MMT. The melting and recrystallization of PVDF was found in MMT addition sample, because of the special ways of ordering of the PVDF chains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010