Biphasic kinetic investigations on the evaluation of non-salt forming reductants for Pu(IV) stripping from tributyl phosphate and N,N-dihexyl octanamide solutions in n-dodecane

The relative stability of different oxidation states of actinide elements is influenced by the nature of complexes formed and redox equilibria in aqueous/non-aqueous solutions. The reduction/stripping studies on Pu(IV) ions from loaded organic phases of 1.1 M tributyl phosphate and of 1.1 M N,N-dihexyl octanamide in n-dodecane were studied using organic soluble tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBH) and aqueous soluble reductants like acetaldoxime (AX) and hydroxyurea (HU). These studies were carried out as a function of reductant and nitric acid concentration (0.5–4 M HNO₃) and of time. The changes in Pu oxidation states were followed by spectrophotometry for TBH and by distribution ratio values for AX and HU as reductants. Spectrophotometric investigations using TBH as reductant showed that it was desirable to strip Pu(III) formed after reduction of Pu(IV) in the organic phase, which may otherwise be reconverted to extractable Pu(IV) by in situ generated HNO₂ from oxidative degradation of TBH to tert-butyl quinone. Similarly, the biphasic reduction/stripping of Pu(IV) using AX and HU as reductant rate was affected adversely with increased aqueous phase acidity. This data will help in the accurate simulation of Pu separation processes using these reductants in mixer-settlers/pulsed columns or centrifugal contactors.     

N,N-Dialkyl amides as extractants for spent fuel reprocessing: an overview

Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel is vital for the long-term global nuclear power growth and is the major motivation for developing novel separation schemes. Conventionally, PUREX and THOREX processes have been proposed for the reprocessing of U and Th based spent fuels employing tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) as extractant. However, based on the experiences gained over last five–six decades on the reprocessing of spent fuels, some major drawbacks of TBP have been identified. Evaluation of alternative extractants is, therefore, desirable which can overcome at least some of these problems. Extensive studies have been carried out on the evaluation of N,N-dialkyl amides as extractants in the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle for addressing the issues related to the reprocessing of U and Th based spent fuels. Under advanced fuel cycle scenario, efforts are also being made by countries with a developed nuclear technological base to provide safe nuclear power to other countries and to minimize proliferation concerns worldwide. This paper presents an overview of studies carried out in our laboratory on different aspects of reprocessing of U and Th based spent fuels employing N,N-dialkyl amides as extractants.     

A simple and cost-effective synthesis of sulfated β-cyclodextrin and its application as chiral mobile phase additive in the separation of cloperastine enantiomers

Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry - A simple and cost-effective method for the synthesis of sulfated β-cyclodextrin, one of the most widely used chiral mobile phase...     

Rotary disc bioreactor-based approach for bacterial nanocellulose production using Gluconacetobacter xylinus NCIM 2526 strain

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is an indomitable biomaterial of utmost usage in different technological areas. Previously, the BNC production has been reported in the simplified bioreactors. Thus, pioneering bioreactor-assisted strategies are desirable for the commendable BNC production. Advanced bioreactors must be corroborated along with different bacterial strains to obtain creditable BNC yield. This study deals with BNC production in rotary disc bioreactor (RDBR) using Gluconacetobacter xylinus NCIM 2526 strain. RDBR-based production of BNC provided 189?±?14 gL^?1 of wet BNC, i.e., equivalent to 6.6?±?0.3 gL^?1 dry BNC yield in 10 days. However, in static cultivation mode, 56?±?12 gL^?1 wet weight of BNC, corresponding to 2.4?±?0.4 gL^?1 dry weight, was produced. Thus, BNC production was approximately 2.75 folds higher in RDBR than statically produced BNC from the same volume of the media. The sugar to BNC conversion yield (12.2?±?0.8%) was doubled in RDBR-based production as compared to static BNC production (6.2?±?1.4%) with efficient sugar consumption (90.0?±?3.3%). The maximum amount of BNC was produced at 7 RPM and pH 6. RDBR-based BNC showed a more hydrophilic nature than statically produced BNC. The RDBR might be appropriate for large-scale BNC production, especially for wet-end applications, as an ample amount of BNC can be produced from a single fermentation process. These BNC pellicles might have the potential for biomedical applications like wound dressings, biofacial masks, hydrogels, and tissue engineering scaffolds.

     

Production and constraints for a massive dark photon at electron-positron colliders

Dark sector may couple to the Standard Model via one or more mediator particles.We discuss two types of mediators:the dark photon A’and the dark scalar mediatorΦ.The total cross-sections and various differential distributions of the processes e+e-→qqA’and e+e→qqφ(q=u,d,c,s and b quarks)are discussed.We focus on the study of the invisible due to the cleaner background at future e+e-colliders.It is found that the kinematic distributions of the two-jet system could be used to identify(or exclude)the dark photon and the dark scalar mediator,as well as to distinguish between them.We further study the possibility of a search for dark photons at a future CEPC experiment with s1/2=91.2 GeV and 240 GeV.With CEPC running at s1/2=91.2 GeV,it would be possible to perform a decisive measurement of the dark photon(20 GeV相似文献   

Ab initio study of [001] GaN nanowires

We present the results of a study of structural, electronic, and optical properties of the unpassivated and H-passivated GaN nanowires having diameters in the range of 3.29 to 18.33 Å grown along [001] direction by employing the first-principles pseudopotential method within density functional theory in the local density approximation. Two types of nanowires having hexagonal and triangular cross-sections have been investigated. The binding energy increases with the diameter of the nanowire because of a decrease in the relative number of the unsaturated surface bonds. The binding energies of the triangular cross-sectional nanowires are somewhat smaller than those of the hexagonal cross-sectional nanowires in accordance with the Wulff’s rule except the smallest diameter triangular cross-sectional nanowire, where the binding energy is comparable with the corresponding hexagonal cross-sectional nanowires. The band gap varies rapidly with the diameter of the nanowire in the case of the smaller diameter nanowires, and quite slowly for the larger diameter nanowires. After atomic relaxation, appreciable distortion occurs in the nanowires, where the chains of Ga- and N-atoms are curved in different directions. These distortions are reduced with the diameters of the nanowires. The optical absorption in the GaN nanowires is quite strong in the ultra-violet region but an appreciable absorption is also present in the visible region for the larger diameter nanowires. The present results indicate the possibility of engineering the properties of nanowires by manipulating their diameter and surface structure. The presently predicted smaller diameter GaN nanowire possessing the triangular cross-section should be observable in the experiments.     

Dielectric loss of poly(vinylacetate) at electric fields of 400 kV/cm

Using quasi-steady-state and time-resolved high-field impedance techniques, the frequency-dependent dielectric permittivity of poly(vinylacetate) has been studied at electric field amplitudes as high as 400 kV/cm. The relative changes of the dielectric loss depend quadratically on the field amplitude and reach about 1 %. The magnitude and frequency-dependence of this non-linear dielectric effect and its time evolution after applying the high field are consistent with energy absorption from the field being at the source of the non-linear behavior. Based upon a phenomenological model of heterogeneous dynamics at isothermal conditions, the observed changes can be explained by locally increased configurational temperatures and the resulting accelerated dynamics.     

Quasi-diamagnetism and exchange anisotropy in Ni-Mn-In-Co Heusler alloys

The quasi-diamagnetism effect that manifests itself in the negative magnetic susceptibility observed in weak magnetic fields during cooling of samples below some critical temperature has been revealed in Ni₄₈Co₂Mn₃₅In₁₅ Heusler alloys. The effect has been attributed to a strong nonequilibrium of the system due to the presence of magnetic and structural disorders and exchange anisotropy.     

Decay of90m,g Rb

The decay of mass separated⁹⁰Rb has been studied usingβ,γ and conversion electron spectrometers in single and coincidence modes. The half-lives of the ground state and the isomeric level have been confirmed to be 162± 3 and 258±4 s, respectively. Theγ-rays from the decays of ground state and metastable state have been identified by measuring the decay of individual photopeaks using Ge(Li) detectors. The multipolarity of the 106.6 keV isomeric transition has been determined to beM3. Separate decay schemes of the ground and metastable states are presented. The levels of⁹⁰Sr are discussed in terms of the available experimental and theoretical information. Radioactivity.^90m,gRb [from²³⁸U(p, f)]; measuredT _1/2,E _γ,I _γ,γ—γ coin,I _ce,cc,E _β deduced logft,⁹⁰Sr levels, mass separated⁹⁰Rb.     

Synthetic studies and structural aspects of novel metallacyclic compoundsof titanium(IV) incorporating nitrogen,oxygen and sulphur: 1. Reactions of cis-dialkoxy-bis(acetylacetonato)titanium(IV) with alkoxyalkanols and the crystal structure of a new modification: di-μ-oxo-bis[diacetylacetonatotitanium(IV)]

Reactions of cis-dialkoxy-bis(acetylacetonato)titanium(IV), [(acac)₂Ti(OR)₂] (R = Et, Pr ⁱ ) with alkoxyalkanols (ROCH₂CH₂OH) (R = Me, Et, n-Bu) in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios in refluxing benzene under anhydrous conditions yield [(acac)₂Ti(OR)_2–n (OCH₂CH₂OR) _n ] (n = 1 or 2) complexes, which were purified by distillation under reduced pressure. On the basis of i.r. and n.m.r. (¹H- and ¹³C-) spectral studies, a cis-octahedral environment around Ti^IV is proposed. On keeping the distilled dark brown-red viscous liquid [(acac)₂Ti(OEt)(OCH₂CH₂OBu)] for 2 weeks, orange yellow crystals of [(acac)₂TiO]₂ were obtained. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study suggests the product is a new modification of [(acac)₂TiO]₂.