Ion-pair extraction of uranyl ion from aqueous medium using crown ethers

Ion-pair extraction behaviour of uranyl ion from aqueous solutions was studied at pH 3.0 employing crown ethers viz. benzo 15 crown 5 (B15C5), 18 crown 6 (18C6), dibenzo 18 crown 6 (DB18C6), and dibenzo 24 crown 8 (DB24C8) in chloroform as the organic phase and picric acid as the organophilic counter anion. The stoichiometry of the extracted species corresponded to [UO₂(crown ether)_n]²⁺·[pic⁻]₂ where n=1.5 for benzo 15 crown 5 and 1 for 18 crown 6 as well as dibenzo 18 crown 6. Adducts of DB24C8 could not be observed as practically no extraction was possible using this reagent. The separation behaviour of fission products from an irradiated uranium target was also studied. An interesting observation on the separation of trivalent lanthanides from uranyl ion is reported.     

3-Phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone: A promising chelate extractant for actinide separation from acidic nuclear waste solutions

In the presence of tri-n-octyl-phosphine (TOPO) oxide, 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone (PBI) has been found to be a promising chelate extractant for the partitioning of actinides from acidic nuclear waste solutions. Quantitative extraction of Pu and U is possible in the nitric acid concentration range 1–6 M, whereas Am can be extracted only from solutions with an acidity . Extraction studies of Am and U under varying loading conditions are also carried out and conditions for quantitative stripping are arrived at.     

Use of oxide minerals to abate fluoride from water

The removal of fluoride from aqueous solutions has been investigated using various oxide ores such as refractory grade bauxite, feed bauxite, manganese ore, and hydrated oxides of manganese ores (WAD). The refractory grade bauxite showed promising results. The studies were carried out as functions of contact time, pH, concentration of adsorbents, concentration of adsorbate, and temperature. The adsorption was rapid during the initial 5 min but equilibrium was attained within 120 min. The adsorption followed first-order kinetics. The present system followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Various thermodynamic parameters such as free energy, enthalpy, entropy, and equilibrium constants were calculated. The isosteric heat calculations showed that the adsorption process followed a heterogeneous model.     

Complexes of copper(II) with 4-methylimidazole

Summary The ligand, 4-methylimidazole L, reacts with Copper(II) to yield hexacoordinated and tetragonal complexes, CuL₄X₂ (X = Cl, Br, NO₃, ClO₄, NCS or 0.5 SO₄) and CuL₆(BF₄)₂; and tetracoordinated square-planar complexes, CuL₂(N₃)₂, (CuL₄)H9Cl₄) and (Me₄N)(CuLCl₃). The complexes obtained were characterized on the basis of analytical data, i.r. and electronic spectra, conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. T.g.a, d.t.g and d.t.a studies have been made for some of the complexes which were found to decompose with loss of imidazole ligand. The stoichiometry of the thermal decompositions was determined.     

Formation of 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-8-methoxycoumarin and 5,8-dioxopsoralen by reaction of 8-methoxypsoralen with H2O2 and potassium superoxide (KO2) catalyzed by halogenated or perhalogenated 5,10,15,20-tetraarylporphyrinatoiron(III) chlorides

The oxidation of 8-methoxypsoralen (2) with hydrogen peroxide and potassium superoxide catalyzed by 5,10,15,20-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chlorides [Me12TPPFe(III)Cl] (1a) and 5,10,15,20-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chlorides [Cl8TPPFe(III)Cl] (1b) in dichloromethane gives 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-8-methoxycoumarin (3) in moderate yields, whereas the oxidation of (2) with H2O2 catalyzed by 5,10,15,20-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-beta-octahaloporphyrinatoiron(III) chlorides [Cl8betaX8TPPFe(III)Cl] (X=Cl, Br) (1c, 1d) gives specifically 5,8-dioxopsoralen (4) in moderate yields.     

Creep behaviour study of virgin and service exposed 5Cr–0.5Mo steel using magnetic Barkhausen emissions technique

Creep damage behaviour of water quenched 5Cr–0.5Mo steel has been studied using magnetic Barkhausen emissions (MBE) technique. The results were compared with the materials having same composition but used in service for 15 years to demonstrate the potentiality of the magnetic technique for in-situ evaluation of extent of creep damage of components. The rms voltage of magnetic Barkhausen signal for the virgin sample decreased at the initial stage of the expended creep life where new carbides are formed. As soon as the growth of the carbides took place at the expense of the smaller ones, MBE voltage started increasing due to the decrease of pinning density. However, in case of 15 years of service exposed sample, growth of carbides already took place and hence MBE voltage increased even during the initial stage of laboratory creep testing. As soon as the void started forming in the samples (both for virgin and service exposed one), the rate of increase of MBE voltage started decreasing. The formations of such cavities were observed through SEM micrograph analysis.