High performance liquid chromatographic studies on lanthanides, uranium and thorium on amide modified reversed phase supports

The retention behavior of uranium, thorium and lanthanides has been investigated with amide modified reversed phase C₁₈ supports using α-hydroxy isobutyric acid (α-HIBA) as the mobile phase. Four structurally different amide moieties namely, 4-hydroxy-N,N-dihexyl butyramide (4HHBA), 4-hydroxy-N,N-di-2-ethylhexylhexanamide (4HEHHA), bis(N,N,N′,N′-2-ethylhexyl)malonamide (B2EHM) and N-methyl-tris(dihexylcarbamoyl-3-methoxy)pivolamide (MTDCMPA) have been synthesized and studied. Among the various amide coated columns, the supports modified with 4HHBA, B2EHM and MTDCMPA exhibit an interesting retention for uranium and thorium, which is different from 4HEHHA modified support. The retention time for uranium and thorium increases with increasing amide concentration for 4HHBA, B2EHM and MTDCMPA supports, while the same decreases with increasing 4HEHHA content. However, the separation factor for uranium and thorium is greater on a 4HEHHA support, compared to an unmodified C₁₈ column, reflecting the amide's preferential complexation of uranium over thorium.Columns modified with 4HHBA, B2EHM and MTDCMPA exhibit relatively higher retentions for lanthanides. However, MTDCMPA modified support shows a different elution profile for lanthanides compared to 4HHBA, and B2EHM modified columns. Individual separations of heavier lanthanides, i.e., from gadolinium to lutetium also have been achieved using 4HHBA and B2EHM modified supports.The influence of modifier content, mobile phase concentration and its pH on the retention of metal ions has also been studied. Based on these investigations, an efficient high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) has been developed for the rapid separation of uranium from thorium as well as for the individual separation of heavier lanthanides.     

Two new 5-deoxyflavones from Albizia odoratissima

Two new 5-deoxyflavones, 7,8-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone (1) and 7,2',4'-trimethoxyflavone (2) together with a known flavone, 7,4'-dimethoxy-3'-hydroxyflavone (3) were isolated from the rootbark of Albizia odoratissima. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and 1D and 2D-NMR spectral studies including (1)H-(1)H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY).     

Underpotential deposition studies of copper on glassy carbon

Studies on the deposition and dissolution of copper from 0·5 M sulphuric acid solutions onto glassy carbon (GC) using potential sweep techniques indicated that an additional peak occurs at higher positive potentials than the bulk stripping peak. This peak is identified as due to the stripping of underpotential deposited (UPD) copper. Results of investigations on the effect of sweep rate, deposition potential and time of deposition on the peak characteristics of UPD and bulk deposited copper are also reported.     

Chromatographic separations of some elements on papers impregnated with a liquid cation exchanger

Summary The use of papers impregnated with the liquid cation exchanger dinonyl naphthalene sulphonic acid for separation of some metal ions is reported.

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Zusammenfassung Zur papierchromatograpischen Trennung einiger Metallionen wird ein Papier benutzt, das mit dem flüssigen Kationenaustauscher Dinonyl-naphthalin-sulfonsäure impägniert ist.

     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of iron as o-phenanthroline-azide mixed ligand complex

Summary The mixed ligand complex, [Fe(Phen)₂(N₃)₂] can be extracted into nitrobenzene giving a molar absorptivity of 16750 at 510 nm. This is the basis of a photometric method for iron which may be either in the trivalent or bivalent state. The new method is free from interference from a number of substances and is more sensitive than the ferroin method.

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Zusammenfassung Der Eisen-Phenanthrolin-Azid-Mischkomplex [Fe(Phen)₂(N₃)₂] ist mit Nitrobenzol extrahierbar und gibt bei 510 nm eine molare Absorption von 16750. Darauf läßt sich eine photometrische Bestimmungsmethode für zweioder dreiwertiges Eisen begründen. Diese wird von vielen Stoffen nicht gestört und ist empfindlicher als die Ferroinmethode.

     

High surface area silicon carbide from rice husk: A support material for catalysts

Ultrafine -SiC with high surface area (150 m² g^–1) has been synthesized by inflight processing of charred rice husk in a r.f. plasma reactor operating at atmospheric pressure. The plasma-synthesized particles were doped with platinum (1%) and tested as a catalytic support material. The catalyst (1% Pt doped -SiC) showed 100% conversion of CO to CO₂ at a temperature as low as 175°C.     

Preparation and thermal decomposition study of pyridinedicarboxylate intercalated layered double hydroxides

Supramolecular 2,3- and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (PDC) intercalated ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (2,3- and 2,5-PDC–ZnAl–LDHs) have been prepared by ion exchange method. The structure and composition of the intercalated materials have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). The study indicates that the 2,3-PDC and 2,5-PDC anions are accommodated as interdigitated bilayer and monolayer arrangement respectively between the sheets of LDHs. Furthermore, their thermal decomposition processes were studied by the use of in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD), and the combined technique of thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis-mass spectrometry (TG-DTA-MS) under N2 atmosphere. Based on the comparison study on the temperatures of both decarboxylation and complete decomposition of interlayer PDC, it can be concluded that 2,5-PDC–ZnAl–LDHs has higher thermal stability than that of 2,3-PDC–ZnAl–LDHs.     

Synthesis of some new metal-containing polyurethanes

Some new metal-containing polyurethanes were synthesized from manganese and lead salts of mono(hydroxyethyl)phthalate by condensing them with hexamethylene diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate in dimethylformamide as solvent. The polymers were characterized by viscometry, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The decomposition temperatures of these polymers were found to be significantly lower than those of metal-free polymers of similar structure. However, the rates of decomposition of metal-containing polyurethanes were lower than those of polyurethanes having no metal. Inherent viscosities in DMSO at 30° of these polyurethanes were low, ranging from 0.043 to 0.067.     

A new oxidimetric reagent: potassium dichromate in a strong phosphoric acid medium—I Titrimetr1c determination of manganese

A new method has been developed for the direct titrimetric determination of manganese^II, depending on its oxidation to manganese^III with potassium dichromate at room temperature in a strong phosphoric acid medium using a potentiometric or photometric endpoint. Oxygen of the air does not interfere. The potentiometric method gives results to an accuracy within ± 0.3% for 20–150 mg of manganese/50 ml of titration solution; with the photometric method 5–17 mg of manganese/40 ml of titration solution can be determined with an error of 0.3–1.0% depending on the amount present. Potassium dichromate in 12.0M phosphoric acid has a formal redox potential of about 1.5 V and this reagent appears to have great possibilities in titrimetric analysis.