Separation of thorium from rare earths

Summary A method for separation of thorium from rare earths in monazite based on the difference of stability of EDTA complexes towards oxine is described.     

Effect of sodium metasilicate on natural flotability of coal

The effect of the quantity of sodium metasilicate and conditioning time in one set of experiments, and the effect of the solution concentration of sodium metasilicate, added at the same dosage and conditioning time to coal slurry, on flotability of a typical Indian coal in another set of experiments are studied. Two sets of 3² full factorial experiments are carried out to assess the effects of the aforementioned variables. The generated data are analyzed quantitatively and explained qualitatively. At 0.1% (w/v) solution concentration of solution added (0.02 g/kg) and 8 min conditioning time, sodium metasilicate acted as activator for kaolinite, whereas at 1.0% (w/v) solution concentration (0.2 g/kg), it acted as dispersant. The best observed condition of depressant is obtained at an added concentration of 10.0% (w/v, 0.2 g/kg) and 8 min conditioning time. The desired effect of the sodium metasilicate can be achieved by controlling its quantity, solution concentration added, and conditioning time.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of sulphide and sulphite in waters based on formation of the bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) copper(I) ion

A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of sulphide or sulphite. The bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II) ion is reduced at pH 10 by sulphide in the presence of formaldehyde and by sulphide and sulphite in its absence. The resulting copper(I) complex is extracted into chloroform and measured. With any convenient sample volume between 1 and 100 ml, the limits of detection are 0.1 mg for sulphide and 0.25 μg for sulphite. The method is unaffected by iron(II) and nitrite, in concentrations of 100 and 1000 mg l^-1, respectively.     

Spectroscopic investigations of Nd(3+)-doped alkali chloroborophosphate glasses

Optical absorption spectra were studied in wavelength region 400-900 nm for the Nd(3+)-doped alkali (R = Li, Na and K) chloroborophosphate glasses at room temperature. The energy level scheme of the 4f(3) electron configuration was deduced from the observed energy level data using a parametrized Hamiltonian (H(F1)) model which includes 20 free-ion interaction parameters. Reasonable correlation was obtained between the experimental and calculated energy levels. The Judd-Ofelt model for the intensity analysis of induced electric dipole transitions has been applied to the measured oscillator strengths of the absorption bands to determine the three phenomenological intensity parameters Omega(2), Omega(4) and Omega(6) for each glass. Using these parameters, the total radiative transition rates (A(T)), non-radiative relaxation rates (W(NR)), branching ratios (beta(R)), integrated cross-sections for the stimulated emission (Sigma), excited state emission intensities (f(ESE)) and excited state absorption intensities (f(ESA)) have been theoretically calculated for certain excited Nd(3+) fluorescent levels. From the results obtained, the conclusion is made about the possibility of using these glasses as laser media.     

Analyses of carcinogenic aromatic amines released from harmful azo colorants by Streptomyces SP. SS07

Extracellular fluid protein (ECFP) of Streptomyces species SS07 has been used to reduce water soluble azo dyes and the carcinogenic amines released have been compared with that from chemical reduction. The effect of temperature, pH and contact time on the recovery of amines using ECFP was studied. The ECFP releases carcinogenic amines at a pH of 9.2 and a temperature of 37 degrees C for a contact period of 24 h. The reduction products were analyzed with HPLC and their structures confirmed by LC-MS and GC-MS. It was observed that both the ECFP and chemical reduction methods released similar type of amine products. In the case of dye samples, compared to chemical reduction, 5-20% increase in the release of carcinogenic amines by ECFP was observed. The percentage of amine products released by chemical reduction was higher for leather garment samples compared to ECFP treatment.     

Chemical ionization and collisional activation spectra of α,β-unsaturated nitriles

A study of the chemical ionization (CI) and collisional activation (CA) spectra of a number of α, β-unsaturated nitriles has revealed that the even-electron ions such as [MH]⁺ and [MNH₄]⁺ produced under chemical ionization undergo decomposition by radical losses also. This results in the formation of M ⁺˙ ions from both [MH]⁺ and [MNH₄]⁺ ions. In the halogenated molecules losses of X˙ and HX compete with losses of H˙ and HCN. Elimination of X˙ from [MH]⁺ is highly favoured in the bromoderivative. The dinitriles undergo a substitution reaction in which one of the CN groups is replaced with a hydrogen radical and the resulting mononitrile is ionized leading to [M ? CN + 2H]⁺ under CI(CH₄) or [M ? CN + H + NH₄] and [M ? CN + H + N₂H₇]⁺ under CI(NH₃) conditions.     

Regioselective cyclization of unsymmetrical dicyanoanilines to novel 2,3-bifunctionalised indole regioisomers and their use in the synthesis of 4,5-dihydro[1,3]oxazino[5,4-b]indole-6-carbonitriles

Synthesis of novel-2,3-bifunctionalised indole regioisomers (2/3 and 6/7) from unsymmetrical dicyanoanilines 1 by regioselective cyclization in two independent ways. Regioisomers 6 are further utilized in synthesis of novel 4,5-dihydro[1,3]oxazino[5,4-b] indole-6-carbonitriles 9.     

The Instability of Permanganate in orthophosphoric acid

Solutions of potassium permanganate in concentrated phosphoric acid (above 50%) are found to be unstable. The oxidation state of manganese is reduced from (VII) to (III) and oxygen is evolved during this process. The extent of decomposition of permanganate is found to be dependent on the concentration of the acid.     

Synthesis and Structure of Environmentally Relevant Perfluorinated Sulfonamides

Alkylated perfluorooctanesulfonamides are compounds of environmental concern. To make these compounds available for environmental and toxicological studies, a series of N-alkylated perfluorooctanesulfonamides and structurally related compounds were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluoride with a suitable primary or secondary amine. Perfluoroalkanesulfonamidoethanols were obtained from the N-alkyl perfluoroalkanesulfonamides either by direct alkylation with bromoethanol or alkylation with acetic acid 2-bromo-ethyl ester followed by hydrolysis of the acetate. N-Alkyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetates were synthesized in an analogous way by alkylation of N-alkyl perfluoroalkanesulfonamides with a bromo acetic acid ester, followed by basic ester hydrolysis. Alternatively, N-alkyl perfluoroalkanesulfonamides can be alkylated with an appropriate alcohol using the Mitsunobu reaction. Perfluorooctanesulfonamide was synthesized from the perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride via the azide by reduction with Zn/HCl. All perfluorooctanesulfonamides contained linear as well as branched C₈F₁₇ isomers, typically in a 10:1 to 30:1 ratio. The crystal structures of N-ethyl and N,N-diethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide show that the S-N bond has considerable double bond character. This double bond character results in a significant rotational barrier around the S-N bond (ΔG^≠ = 62-71 kJ mol⁻¹) and a preferred solid state and solution conformation in which the N-alkyl groups are oriented opposite to the perfluorooctyl group to minimize steric crowding around the S-N bond.     

Stability of AQUO-organic silver iodide sol

Summary The coagulation concentration for silver iodide sol, both in presence of pyridine and dioxane, increases for mono- and bivalent coagulating electrolyte. In presence of a mixture of pyridine and dioxane in equal volume, the coagulation concentration assumes an intermediate value, which is nearer to dioxane. However, in presence of dioxane more bivalent electrolyte is needed than in presence of pyridine. If a bivalent coagulating electrolyte is added to a sol containing a mixture of pyridine and dioxane, the amount of electrolyte required to coagulate is less than pyridine and greater than dioxane. Thus silver iodide sol is more stable toward mono- and bivalent coagulating electrolytes. The degree of stabilization increases with the decrease of the dielectric constant of the dispersing medium. The intermediate values for dioxane pyridine mixture is accountable by the fact that dioxane acts as a solvent for pyridine. The PH value of the sol increases up to the coagulation point. Beyond this, there is an abrupt decrease. When the particles settle down completely a rise in PH is again noted on the further addition of electrolytes. The increase in the electrical conductance is more significant after coagulation. These changes have been explained by adsorption of the ions and due to the release of ions from the electrical double layer.

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Zusammenfassung Die Koagulationskonzentration für Silberjodidsol in Gegenwart von Pyridin und Dioxan steigt für ein- und zweiwertige Elektrolyte an. In Gegenwart einer Mischung zu gleichen Volumen erh?lt man mittlere Werte, n?her denen zu Dioxan. Für Koagulation in Gegenwart von Dioxan ist jedoch mehr zweiwertiger Elektrolyt notwendig als in Gegenwart von Pyridin. Bei Koagulation mit zweiwertigem Elektrolyt verbraucht ein Sol mit der Mischung von Pyridin und Dioxan weniger als für Pyridin und mehr als für Dioxan. Daher ist das Silbersol gegenüber ein- und zweiwertigen Elektrolyten stabiler. Der Grad der Stabilisierung w?chst mit abnehmender Dielektrizit?tskonstante des Dispersionsmediums. Die Zwischenwerte der Dioxan-Pyridin-Mischungen lassen sich verstehen durch die Tatsache, da? Dioxan als L?sungsmittel für Pyridin wirkt. Der PH-Wert des Sols w?chst bis zum Koagulationspunkt, darüberhinaus erfolgt ein steiler Abfall. Wenn die Teilchen vollst?ndig absetzen, ist bei weiterer Zugabe von Elektrolyt ein erneuter Anstieg im PH feststellbar. Der Anstieg der elektrolytischen Leitf?higkeit wird nach der Koagulation ausgepr?gter. Diese ?nderungen lassen sich durch Ionenadsorption und Freiwerden von Ionen aus der elektrischen Doppelschicht erkl?ren.

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Our thanks are due to Prof. R. C. Mehrotra for providing all the facilities for this work and to Prof. S. Ghosh of Allahabad University for helpful discussions. Thanks are also due to the University Grants Commission, Government of India, for the award of a research scholarship to one of us (V. K. S.).