Extraction studies of uranium into a third-phase of thorium nitrate employing tributyl phosphate and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dihexyl octanamide as extractants in different diluents

Extraction behavior of 1 × 10⁻²–0.1 M U(VI) from aqueous phases containing 0.86 M Th(IV) at 4 M HNO₃ in 1.1 M tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 1.1 M N,N-dihexyl octanamide (DHOA) solutions in different diluents viz. n-dodecane, 10% 1-octanol + n-dodecane, and decahydronaphthalene (decalin) was studied. Third-phase formation was observed in both the extractants using n-dodecane as diluent. There was a gradual decrease in Th(IV) concentration in the third-phase (heavy organic phase, HOP) with increased aqueous U(VI) concentration [0.71 M (no U(VI))–0.61 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for TBP; 0.27 M (no U(VI))–0.22 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for DHOA]. The HOP volume in case of DHOA was ~2.2 times of that of TBP. Uranium concentration in HOP increased with its initial concentration in the aqueous phase [from 1.8 × 10⁻² M (0.01 M U(VI))–0.162 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for TBP; from 1.4 × 10⁻² M (0.01 M U(VI))–0.14 M (0.1 M U(VI)) for DHOA] suggesting that Th(IV) was being replaced by U(VI). An empirical correlation was developed for predicting the concentrations of uranium and thorium in HOP for both the extractants. No third-phase appeared during the extraction of uranium and thorium from the aqueous phases employing 10% 1-octanol + n-dodecane, or decalin as diluents, and therefore, were better choices as diluent for alleviating the third-phase formation during the reprocessing of spent thorium based fuels, and for the recovery of thorium from high-level waste solutions.     

Using the 19F NMR chemical shift anisotropy tensor to differentiate between the zigzag and chiral forms of fluorinated single-walled carbon nanotubes

The structural characterization of different kinds of zigzag and chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been investigated theoretically using (19)F NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensor is computed at different levels of theory for the (19)F nuclei in different forms of functionalized fluorinated carbon nanotubes (CNT). A set of fluorine CSA parameters comprising the span, skew, and isotropic chemical shift is computed for each form of the fluoronanotubes and multidimensional CSA parameter correlation maps are constructed. We show that these correlations are able to clearly distinguish between the chiral and zigzag forms of fluorinated carbon nanotubes (F-SWNTs). Implications for solid-state and liquid-state NMR experiments are discussed.     

Solution structure of copper-seamed C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arene nanocapsules with varying chain lengths

The stability of copper-seamed C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arene hexamers with varying chain lengths in solution has been studied using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The progression in diameter of spherical capsules with increasing alkyl chain lengths of copper-seamed hexamers in solution suggests both robustness as well as a close correlation between the solid phase and solution phase structures.     

A rapid and simple route for the synthesis of lead and palladium nanoparticles in tetrazolium based ionic liquid

In the present work, we report a novel method for the synthesis of palladium and lead nanoparticles by the reduction method in tetrazolium ring based ionic liquid. Palladium and lead nanoparticles so-prepared were well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction measurements (pXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and quasi elastic light scattering (QELS) techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) analysis revealed all relevant Bragg's reflection for crystal structure of palladium and lead. Powder X-ray diffraction plots also revealed no oxidized material of palladium and lead nanoparticles. TEM showed nearly uniform distribution of the particles in methanol and confirmed by QELS. Typical applications of palladium nanoparticles include in vitro use and sensor design applications. Palladium nanoparticles is also ideal for spin coating, self-assembly and monolayer formation. Palladium nanoparticles can also be considered as potential new catalysts.     

Study on Volumetric,Compressibility and Viscometric Behavior of Cationic Surfactants (CTAB and DTAB) in Aqueous Glycyl Dipeptide: A Thermo-Acoustic Approach

This study aims to understand how glycyl dipeptide affected the compressibility, volumetric behavior and viscometric behavior of the cationic surfactants CTAB (Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and DTAB (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide). Information on solute–solute, solute–solvent, and solvent–solvent interactions has been inferred using the quantification of density (ρ), speed of sound (u) and viscosity in aqueous media containing glycyl dipeptide in the temperature range 293.15–313.15 K at an interval of 5 K. The data from the aforementioned research have been used to enumerate numerous volumetric and compressibility metrics that aid in the collection of information about the interactional behavior of the system under consideration. The study suggests that CTAB interacts strongly compared to DTAB with dipeptide, and it also significantly dehydrates glycyl dipeptide. The difference in water–water interactions caused by the loss of hydrophobic hydration of the surfactant molecules upon the addition of cationic surfactants may be the cause of the variation in determined parameters with surfactant concentration. Consideration of the structural rearrangement of molecules that may occur in the system has been used to explain the results of viscosity and computed factors related to viscosity. The patterns of competitive intermolecular interactions in the ternary (dipeptide + water + surfactant) system have been used to analyze the trends of all the parameters. The study may be helpful to understand the stability and structural changes in protein–surfactant systems mediated through various interactions that may be present in the system.     

An efficient numerical approach for solving a general class of nonlinear singular boundary value problems

Journal of Mathematical Chemistry - This paper is concerned with the development of a collocation method based on the Bessel polynomials for numerical solution of a general class of nonlinear...     

Synthesis of indenoquinolinone through aryne-mediated Pd(II)-catalysed remote C–H activation

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Indenoquinolinones have been synthesized from 2-haloquinoline-3-carbaldehyde through Pd-mediated simultaneous C–H (aldehyde) and C–X bond...     

Terephthalic Acid Copolyesters Containing Tetramethylcyclobutanediol for High-Performance Plastics

There is a need for high-performance applications for terephthalic acid (TPA) polyesters with high heat resistance, impact toughness, and optical clarity. Bisphenol A (BPA) based polycarbonates and polyarylates have such properties, but BPA is an endocrine disruptor. Therefore, new TPA polyesters that are less hazardous to health and the environment are becoming popular. Tetramethylcyclobutanediol (TMCD) is a difunctional monomer that can be polymerized with TPA and other diols to yield copolyesters with superior properties to conventional TPA polyesters. It has a cyclobutyl ring that makes it more rigid than cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and EG. Thus, TMCD containing TPA copolyesters can have high heat resistance and impact strength. TPA can be made from abundantly available upcycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Therefore, this review discusses the synthesis of monomers and copolyesters, the impact of diol composition on material properties, molecular weight, effects of photodegradation, health safety, and substitution of cyclobutane diols for future polyesters.     

Reactivity of M(en)Cl2 (M = Pd/Pt,en = 1,2-diaminoethane) with N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine: Binding with hexafluorobenzene

Schiff base N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine (LH₂) complexed with Pt(en)Cl₂ and Pd(en)Cl₂ provided [Pt(en)L]₂ · 4PF₆ (1) and Pd(Salen) (2) (Salen = N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-ethylenediamine), respectively, which were characterized by their elemental analysis, spectroscopic data and X-ray data. A solid complex obtained by the reaction of hexafluorobenzene (hfb) with the representative complex 1 has been isolated and characterized as 3 (1 · hfb) using UV–Vis, NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F) data. A solid complex of hfb with a reported Zn-cyclophane 4 has also been prepared and characterized 5 (4 · hfb) for comparison with complex 3. The association of hfb with 1 and 4 has also been monitored using UV–Vis and luminescence data.