Separation of iron from cobalt in nitrate medium using Cyanex-923 as extractant

We describe an analytical procedure with the use of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for the determination of about 20 elements in solutions of ¹⁷⁷LuCl₃ following the dissolution of the irradiated lutetium nitrate or oxide. The aliquots containing amounts of lutetium ranging from 1 to 100 µg in 1 ml volume were analyzed. It corresponded to the activity of ¹⁷⁷Lu ranging from 5 to 100 mCi. The detection limits of the elements concerned were in the range of 1 to 100 ng·ml^–1. The activity of ¹⁷⁷Lu and other radionuclides was measured using a high-resolution gamma ray spectrometer. The developed procedures are to be used for routine quality control of ¹⁷⁷Lu produced for synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Separation of uranium and thorium using tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate as extractant

The distribution behavior of uranium and thorium has been investigated in a biphasic system of different aqueous nitric acid concentrations and a solution of tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) inn-dodecane at 25°C. The effect of different uranium and thorium concentrations in the aqueous phase on the extraction of these metal ions is evaluated. These results indicate that TEHP is a better choice than tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) for the separation of²³³U from the irradiated thorium matrix.     

Reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dihexyloctanamide with nitrate and dodecane radicals: a pulse radiolysis study

Recently, completely incinerable N,N-dihexyloctanamide (DHOA) has been identified as a promising alternative to tri-n-butyl phosphate for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels. The present work deals with the pulsed radiolytic investigation on the reactions of DHOA with the radicals produced in the radiolysis of nitric acid and dodecane medium. The rate constants of the reactions of DHOA with solvated electron, nitrate radical and dodecane radicals have been measured and the transients have been characterized. In addition, the reactions of DHOA transients have also been studied.     

Disparity in properties of 20-mol% Eu-doped ceria synthesized by different routes

Ce_0.8Eu_0.2O_2?δ was synthesized by conventional solid state route as well as wet chemical route (i.e. cation complexation, combustion method). The crystallite size obtained for cation complexation and combustion samples is 14 and 19 nm while their surface area is 11.70 and 29.63 m²g^?1 respectively. Cation complexation synthesized product lead to formation of agglomerates and hence the sintered sample showed porosity compared to combustion synthesized sample. However, despite high packing density the combustion synthesized sample showed lower grain boundary, total conductivity than cation complexation synthesized product due to the formation of siliceous film at the grain boundary.     

Comparative evaluation of two substituted diglycolamide extractants for ‘actinide partitioning’

Extraction behaviour of actinides, lanthanides, fission products and structural elements has been studied with the two diglycolamide extractants, namely N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-ethylhexyl diglycolamide (T2EHDGA) and N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA). The acid extraction studies suggested that T2EHDGA (K_H: 1.8) is less basic as compared to its linear homologue, TODGA (K_H: 4.1). The distribution ratio of Am(III) by 0.1 M diglycolamides followed the order: TODGA > T2EHDGA. The number of ligand molecules present in the stoichiometry of the extracted species of Am(III) was found to be three and four for T2EHDGA and TODGA, respectively. Thermodynamics studies suggested that the extraction of Am(III) by both the extractants is exothermic in nature. The radiolytic stability of TODGA and T2EHDGA solutions in n-dodecane has been investigated. Due to lower distribution ratio of Am by T2EHDGA, 0.2 M of its solution has been used as compared to 0.1 M solution of TODGA. The distribution behaviour of various metal ions, viz. Am, Nd, Fe, Mo, Cr, Sr and Cs has been studied from nitric acid as well as from simulated high level waste solution.     

Radiation stability of several polymeric supports used for radionuclide transport from nuclear wastes using liquid membranes

In an attempt to evaluate radiation stability of several polymeric materials used as the support in supported liquid membrane studies for the transport of radionuclides from nuclear waste, flat sheets made from polytetrafluoroethylene, polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyacrylonitrile and polyvinylidenefluoride were irradiated to varying extents using a ⁶⁰Co gamma ray source and subsequently, the transport efficiency of the irradiated flat sheets were evaluated. The membrane integrity was assessed from the transport rates of Am³⁺ from a feed containing 3 M HNO₃ into a receiver phase containing 0.01 M HNO₃ as the strippant while 0.1 M TODGA (N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyldiglycolamide) + 0.5 M DHOA (di-n-hexyloctanamide) in n-dodecane was used as the carrier extractant. The radiation stability of the membrane filters was evaluated after irradiating them up to 20 MRad absorbed dose in a gamma chamber.     

Thermodynamics of U(VI) complexation by succinate at variable temperatures

Complexation of U(VI) by succinate has been studied at various temperatures in the range of (298 to 338) K by potentiometry and isothermal titration calorimetry at constant ionic strength (1.0 M). The potentiometric titrations revealed the formation of 1:1 uranyl succinate complex in the pH range of 1.5 to 4.5. The stability constant of uranyl succinate complex was found to increase with temperature. Similar trend was observed in the case of enthalpy of complex formation. However, the increase in entropy with temperature over-compensated the increase in enthalpy, thereby favouring the complexation reaction at higher temperatures. The linear increase of enthalpy of complexation with temperature indicates constancy of the change in heat capacity during complexation. The temperature dependence of stability constant data was well explained with the help of Born equation for electrostatic interaction between the metal ion and the ligand. The data have been compared with those for uranyl complexes with malonate and oxalate to study the effect of ligand size and hydrophobicity on the temperature dependence of thermodynamic quantities.     

Preconcentration and separation of trace amounts of palladium using dithiooxamide functionalized chelating resin followed by its determination using radiotracer technique

The work describes a procedure of preconcentration and separation of trace amounts of Pd(II) by solid phase extraction of the metal ion by dithiooxamide groups incorporated into a matrix of polystyrene-divinylbenzene whereas the determination of palladium has been carried out by radiotracer technique using ¹⁰⁹Pd (T _1/2 = 13.43 hr, E _γ = 311, 647 keV). The experiments were carried out using both batch method and column operation. Parameters such as the amount of resin, effect of pH, equilibration rate, sorption and desorption of metal ions have been studied. The maximum sorption capacity for palladium was found to be 0.10 mmol·g⁻¹ at pH 6.0. The method is rapid, has a good accuracy and can be used routinely.