Distribution behavior of astatine: Solvent extraction and back extraction

The distribution behavior of astatine was studied at tracer concentrations and over a wide range of carrier iodide concentration in both solvent extraction and back extraction processes. Astatine compounds were extracted instantly into the organic solvent, CS₂ from the carrier free and carrier iodide containing solutions. Back extraction of astatine with various NaOH solutions followed by solvent extraction caused the hydrolysis of astatine. The distribution behavior of astatine was explained by the extraction reaction schemes.     

Anomalous solvent extraction behavior of astatine

We studied the solvent extraction behavior of astatine and found the anomalous behavior of this element similar to radioiodine. Astatine was extracted into CS₂ from acidic solution over a wide range of carrier iodine concentration. The distribution ratios of astatine were determined by measuring the -ray from 210 At with a Nal(TI) detector. A drastic change was observed around at 10^–4 mol/l as in the case of 131 I. This tendency is well explained by the kinematics of the chemical reactions concemed.     

Anomalous Distribution Behavior of Radioiodine at Tracer Concentrations

The solvent extraction behavior of radioiodine at tracer concentration was studied by varying the pH of the tracer solution in order to gain deeper insight into the anomalous behavior of radioiodine at low concentrations. The anomalous behavior of radioiodine was observed with all the tracer solutions because of the existence of radioiodine complex in the tracer solution. The observed anomalous behavior of radioiodine was consistently explained by the comprehensive extraction mechanism.     

Anomalous behavior of radioiodine: Solvent extraction from acidic solution

Anomalous behavior of radioiodine was found in solvent extraction. Iodine was extracted into CS₂ from acidic solution over a wide range of iodine concentration. The distribution ratio was obtained by measuring the -rays from iodine-131. The ratio drastically changed at about 10^–5 mol l^–1. The change is readily explained by the kinetic behavior of radioiodine.     

Solvent extraction behaviour of tracer zirconium in TTA-xylene system

The solvent extraction behaviour of tracer zirconium in the TTA-xylene system has been studied. By studying the effect of TTA concentration, extraction time, and acid concentration for HNO₃ and HCl, optimum conditions of zirconium extraction are determined. It is found that zirconium is 98% extracted in one minute of extraction with 0.5M TTA in xylene from an 8M HNO₃ solution. A plot of 1g D versus 1g [TTA] gives a straight line with a slope of 2. This suggests that the zirconium ion is hydrolyzed and is present as ZrO²⁺, zirconyl ion, in aqueous solutions. Based on work done while the author was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. 02139, USA.     

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty and the radiological risk to on-site inspection teams

The solvent extraction behavior of thorium traces from the hydrochloric acid media with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP) is described using ²³⁴Th as a tracer. The influence of certain variables such as extractant concentration, acidity, equilibrium time as well as UO₂ ²⁺ ions on the extraction of thorium has been investigated systematically. The back-extraction behavior of thorium from the organic phase has also been tested. The results reveal that the percent extraction of ²³⁴Th decreases with increasing hydrochloric acid concentration and thorium is easily back-extracted with an 4-6 mol/l aqueous HCl solution. At the same time, the effect of thorium extraction with PMBP was tested employing radioisotopes as multi-tracers in the irradiation of natural uranium with 14-15 MeV neutrons. The results show that thorium can be completely separated from a large amount of uranium and most of the other main reaction products.     

Radiochemical studies of iodine behaviour under conditions relevant to nuclear reactor accidents

Radiochemical methods are quite suitable for studying the behaviour of radioiodine under the dilute conditions relevant to nuclear reactor accidents. Species selective adsorbents are able to distinguish between various inorganic and organic gas-phase iodine species. A solvent extraction procedure for determining aqueous phase organic iodide, free iodine, I^– and IO ₃ ^– fractions has been investigated and found to be valuable, although large inaccuracies in the separation of I^– and IO ₃ ^– can occur for solutions of pH above 10. The extraction of potentially-volatile species in the aqueous phase gives a measure of iodine species volatility consistent with observed values of the partition coefficient. Indirect measurement suggest that the partition coefficient of HOI at room temperature exceeds 30,000.     

Extraction of 211At from nitric acid solutions into various organic solvents for use as an α-source for radiation chemistry studies

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The partitioning of 211At from an irradiated bismuth target using solvent extraction into several organic solvents is presented. Although astatine...     

Quantitative separation of carrier-free cerium from fission products

The extraction of Ce (IV) by di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid (HDEHP) has been studied as a function of nitric acid concentration. Using the distribution coefficient data, the optimum conditions for recovery of Ce (IV) from nitric acid medium were arrived at. Under the conditions employed for Ce(IV), a small percentage of Ru was also found to be extracted. Cerium could be selectively stripped from the organic phase with 8M HNO₃/30% H₂O₂ solution. This procedure led to the recovery of¹⁴⁴Ce free of¹⁰⁶Ru. Based on the solvent extraction data, an extraction-chromatographic procedure employing HDEHP (40% w/w) loaded on Amberlite XAD-7 as the stationary phase was developed for the isolation of pure, carrier-free¹⁴⁴Ce from the spent fuel solution.     

Studies on Liquid/liquid Extraction of Copper Ion with Room Temperature Ionic Liquid

Room temperature ionic liquids are regarded as “Green solvents” for their nonvolatile and thermally stable properties. They are employed to replace traditional volatile organic solvents in organic synthesis, solvent extraction, and electrochemistry. In this work, a water immiscible room temperature ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₄mim][PF₆], was used as an alternative solvent for liquid/liquid extraction of copper ions. Metal chelators, including dithizone, 8‐hydroxyquinoline, and 1‐(2‐pyridylazo)‐2‐naphthol, were employed to form neutral metal‐chelate complexes with copper ions so that copper ions were extracted from aqueous solution into [C₄mim][PF₆]. The parameters that affect the extraction of copper ions with this biphasic system were investigated. The extraction behavior in this novel biphasic system is shown to be consistent with that of traditional solvents. For example, the extraction with this biphasic system is strongly pH dependent. So, the extraction efficiency of coppers ion from an aqueous phase can be manipulated by tailoring the pH value of the extraction system. Hence, the extraction, separation and preconcentraction of copper ions can be accomplished by controlling the pH value of the extraction system. It appears that the use of ionic liquid as an alternate solvent system in liquid/liquid extraction of copper ions is very promising.     

Comparison of membrane assisted liquid–liquid microextraction devices applied to a series of volatile organic compounds in aqueous environmental matrices

An extraction device has been investigated for the separation and preconcentration of a series of volatile organic compounds (CHCl₃, CHCl₂Br, CHClBr₂ and CHBr₃) in aqueous matrices. The device consisted of a microporous membrane system utilising a hollow fibre tube filled with organic solvent directly immersed into the sample solution. The hollow fibre containing 160 µL organic solvent was immersed in a glass vial with 10 mL capacity, and the extraction took place through diffusive transport between the aqueous sample and the small amount of solvent. For validation of the method, some operational conditions, such as extraction solvent, temperature, stirring rate and separation time, were optimised. Limit of detection was at low ppb levels, with GC-MS analysis under selected ion monitoring (SIM), whereas enrichment factors between 22 and 35 were obtained. Good reproducibility with RSDs between 7.2% and 9.8% and large linear dynamic ranges with R ² between 0.996 and 0.998 were also achieved. In addition, the performance of the membrane assisted solvent extraction (MASE) system was compared with two existing configurations: a non-porous membrane separation device, as well as with a comparable microporous configuration. The comparison considered the extraction mechanism and the underlying transport processes. The application to real samples showed a good concordance with classical analytical methods.     

Di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfoxide as an extractant for plutonium(IV) from nitric acid medium

The liquid-liquid extraction behavior of plutonium(IV) from aqueous nitric acid media into n-dodecane by di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfoxide (DEHSO) was investigated over a wide range of conditions. Optimum-parameters such as the aqueous phase acidity, reagent and metal concentrations, etc., were established for efficient extraction-separation of tracer as well as macro levels of plutonium. It was found that the extraction increased with increasing nitric acid concentration up to 6M HNO₃ and then decreased. Extraction also increased with increasing extractant concentration. After loading of the organic phase with 2 to 50 mg/ml of U(VI), extractability of Pu(IV) became considerably lower. Recovery of Pu(IV) from the organic phase was accomplished using dilute uranium(IV) nitrate as the strippant.     

Solvent extraction of Au(III) for preparation of a carrier-free multitracer and an Au tracer from an Au target

Separation of Au(III) and various carrier-free radionuclides by solvent extraction was investigated using an Au target irradiated by an energetic heavy-ion beam. Percentage extraction of Au(III) and coextraction of the radionuclides were determined with varying parameters such as kinds of solvent, molarity of HCl or pH, and Au concentration. Under the conditions where Au(III) was effectively extracted, namely extraction with ethyl acetate or isobutyl methyl ketone from 3 mol·dm^–3 HCl, carrier-free radionuclides of many elements were found to be more or less coextracted. Coextraction of radionuclides of some elements was found to increase with an increase in the concentration of Au(III). This finding is ascribed to the formation of strong association of the complex of these elements with chloroauric acid. In order to avoid serious loss of these elements by the extraction, lowering of the Au(III) concentration or the use of a masking agent such as sodium citrate is necessary. Gold(III) was shown to be effectively back extracted with a 0.1 mol·dm^–3 aqueous solution of 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol. Thus, a radiochemical procedure has been established for preparing a carrier-free multitracer and an Au tracer with carrier form from an Au target irradiated with a heavy-ion beam. Both tracers are now used individually for chemical and biological experiments.     

The separation of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) by liquid-liquid extraction

The extraction of Zn(II) and Cd(II) from thiocyanate solutions with bis-2-ethylhexyl sulphoxide (B₂EHSO) in benzene as an extractant has been studied by tracer techniques. For comparison, extraction has also been carried out with tributylphosphate (TBP). The extraction data have been analysed by both graphical and theoretical methods by taking into account complexation of the metal in the aqueous phase by inorganic ligands and plausible complexes extracted into the organic phase. The results demonstrate that Zn(II) is extracted as Zn(SCN)₂·2B2EHSO and Zn(SCN)₂·2TBP. In the case of Cd(II), the extracted species are Cd(SCN)₂·4B2EHSO/4TBP. The synergistic extraction of Zn(II) and Cd(II) with mixtures of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazolone-5 (HPMBP) and B2EHSO or TBP or trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) from acetate buffer solutions has also been investigated. Zn(II) is extracted as Zn(PMBP)₂·B2EHSO/TBP/TOPO. On the other hand, Cd(II) is found to be not extracted with these mixed-ligand systems under the experimental conditions. These results also demonstrate the mutual separation of Zn(II) and Cd(II) using the synergistic extraction with HPMBP in the presence of various neutral oxodonors.     

Trace Analysis of Nickel by Extraction-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry Determination of its Acenaphthenequinone Dioxime Complex in Molten Naphthalene

A procedure is described for the trace analysis of nickel using the liquid-liquid extraction of nickel acenaphthenequinone dioxime complex with molten naphthalene followed by solid-liquid separation. Nickel complex cannot be extracted into any non-aqueous organic solvents, but can be quantitatively extracted into molten naphthalene. It is very stable at high temperature and is dissolved in the mixed solvent (HNO₃-DMF). The absorbance of the solution was measured at 231.5 nm against a reagent blank. Beer's law is followed in the concentration range of 5–100 μg of nickel in 10 ml of the final solution. The sensitivity for 1% absorption is 0.155 μg/ml nickel. The relative standard deviation is 1.0% for ten replicate determinations of 60 μg of nickel. The interference of various ions has been studied and the method has been applied to the determination of nickel in aluminium alloys.     

Study on the Solvent Extraction with Radio-Tracers. I. Extraction Study on Protactinium-233 with the Noyltrifluoroacetone

Protactinium-233, separated from the irradiated thorium, was used as a tracer for the extraction study with thenoyItrifluoroacetone. From the results obtained by the variation of acidities of HCl with the constant concentration of TTA in benzene, a slope of ?2 was obtained by plotting the distribution coefficients against acidities. With a definite acid concentration of HCl in the aquous solution and by the variation of TTA concentration, a slope of 4 was obtained by plotting the distribution coefficients against the concentration of β-diketone. With these results, species extracted by the organic layer was assumed to be Pa[TTA]₂[HTTA]₂. If the composition of the organic layer was changed by the addition of the following solvents into the TTA in benzene solution, the order of the extraction was found as follows: n-amyl alcohol > cyclohexane > chloroform > n-hexane > carbon tetrachloride > benzene > nitrobenzene > hexone > cyclohexanone > n-butyl alcohol.     

LC Determination of Mono-Substituted Phenols in Water Using Liquid–Liquid–Liquid Phase Microextraction

A simple liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction device of new design was used to pre-concentrate phenols from water samples before liquid chromatographic (LC) analysis. Extraction was induced by the pH difference inside and outside an organic phase located at the interface. The pH of the donor phase outside the organic phase was adjusted to 1 with HCl whereas the acceptor phase was a basic solution at pH 13. On stirring neutral phenols were extracted into the organic solvent then back-extracted into 1 μL of basic acceptor solution suspended from the tip of a micro syringe. The acceptor phase was then withdrawn into the micro syringe and injected directly into the LC. The technique uses a low-cost disposable extraction ‘device’ and is very convenient to operate. Up to 230-fold enrichment of analytes could be achieved. This procedure could also serve as a sample clean-up step because neutral and basic compounds were not extracted into the acceptor phase. The RSD (n = 5) was better than 6.2% and the linear calibration range was from 1 to 1000 µg–L⁻¹ with r ² ≥ 0.992.Optimization of experimental conditions (rate of stirring, ionic strength of the sample solution, concentration of reagents, time of extraction, and organic solvent volume) were also examined. The method was applied to the determination of phenols in tap and well waters.Revised: 14 February and 29 March 2005     

Hollow fiber‐based liquid membrane microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for extraction and determination of trimetazidine in human plasma

A hollow fiber‐based liquid phase microextraction strategy combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography was evaluated for the quantitative determination of trimetazidine in human plasma. Trimetazidine was extracted from a 2.1 mL basified plasma sample (donor phase) into the organic solvent (n‐octanol) impregnated in the pores of a hollow fiber and then extracted into an acidic solution (acceptor phase) inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. The result showed that transport of drugs from alkaline sample solution into 0.5 m HCl occurred efficiently when 25 μL of 250 mm sodium 1‐octanesulfonate was added into the donor phase. Several parameters influencing the efficiency of the method, such as the nature of organic solvent used to impregnate the membrane, compositions of donor phase and acceptor phase, type and concentration of carrier, extraction time, stirring rate and salt concentration, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves were obtained in the range of 5–200 ng/mL with reasonable linearity (r > 0.9980). The method was successfully applied to determine the concentration of trimetazidine in human plasma. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ion-pair liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction of nerve agent degradation products followed by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

The four nerve agent degradation products methylphosphonic acid (MPA), ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA), isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA) and cyclohexyl methylphosphonic acid (CMPA) have been successfully extracted from aqueous sample solution by ion-pair liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction. In this procedure, the target analytes in the sample solution were converted into their ion-pair complexes with tri-n-butyl amine and then extracted by an organic solvent (1-octanol) layer on top of the sample solution. Simultaneously, the analytes were back-extracted into a drop of an aqueous acceptor solution which was suspended in the organic phase at a microsyringe needle tip. The factors influential to extraction: type of organic solvent, type of ion-pair reagent and its concentration, pH values of sample solution and acceptor aqueous phase, stirring rate and extraction time were investigated in detail. After extraction, the drop of the acceptor solution was withdrawn into the syringe and injected into a capillary electrophoresis system for analysis. Using contactless conductivity detection, direct quantification of these compounds is possible. Moreover, large-volume sample injection was employed for further preconcentration. Improvements in the limits of detection between 2.5 and 4 orders of magnitude could be achieved and concentrations at the ng/mL level can be determined. This newly established approach was successfully applied to a spiked river water sample.     

Preconcentration of inorganic mercury and organic mercury with solvent extraction for neutron activation analysis

A preconcentration method combined with neutron activation technique for the analysis of organic and inorganic mercury in waste water samples at ppb levels is presented. The inorganic mercury is extracted in CCl₄ solution with lead diethyldithiocarbamate reagent and the organic mercury is extracted in C₆H₆ solution. Interfering activities of sodium and bromine are removed from the irradiated samples by this procedure. Two different solvent extraction procedures are also described in detail.