Direct Determination of Uranium in the D2EHPA-TOPO Organic Phase Using EDXRF Spectrometry

The determination of uranium in liquid samples using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence was investigated. The organic phase di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phosphoric acid and trioctyl phosphine oxide (D2EHPA-TOPO)/kerosene, which resulted from first and second cycles of uranium extraction from commercial phosphoric acid, was directly analyzed using ¹⁰⁹Cd as a primary excitation source. Copper was used as an internal standard, which led to a linear relation between relative intensity of uranium and its concentration. Three calibration curves, 0–100, 100–1000 and 1000–6500 g· ml^–1, according to uranium concentration in the studied samples, were constructed. The effect of different molarities of D2EHPA and TOPO was considered. The detection limit, precision and accuracy were 1.1 g · ml^–1, 3% and 1.4%, respectively. The obtained results were compared with other techniques such as -ray spectroscopy, UV spectrometry and volumetry.     

Synthesis of β-Aminophosphonates and Study of Their Acid-Base Properties and Phase Distribution in Water-Organic Solvent Systems

New and previously known β-aminoethylphosphonates were synthesized by addition of primary and secondary amines to vinylphosphonates, and their IR and NMR spectra were examined. Diethyl 2-diethylaminoethylphosphonate and diethyl 2-morpholinoethylphosphonate were found to be stronger bases than the corresponding aminomethylphosphonates, but all these are weaker bases than their precursors, nonphosphorylated amines. Distribution constants of β-aminophosphonates between water and some organic solvents were determined and compared with those of their α-amino homologs.     

Solution chemistry of uranyl ion with iminodiacetate and oxydiacetate: A combined NMR/EXAFS and potentiometry/calorimetry study

The solution chemistry of uranyl ion with iminodiacetate (IDA) and oxydiacetate (ODA) was investigated using NMR and EXAFS spectroscopies, potentiometry, and calorimetry. From the NMR and EXAFS data and depending on stoichiometry and pH, three types of metal:ligand complex were identified in solution in the pH range 3-7: 1:1 and 1:2 monomers; a 2:2 dimer. From NMR and EXAFS data for the IDA system and previous studies, we propose the three complex types are [UO(2)(IDA)(H(2)O)(2)], [UO(2)(IDA)(2)](2)(-), and [(UO(2))(2)(IDA)(2)(mu-OH)(2)](2)(-). From EXAFS spectroscopy, similar 1:1, 2:2, and 1:2 complexes are found for the ODA system, although (13)C NMR spectroscopy was not a useful probe in this system. For the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes in solution, EXAFS spectroscopy is ambiguous because the data can be fitted with either a long U-N/O(ether) value (ca. 2.9 A) suggesting 1,7-coordination of the ligand or a U-C interaction at a similar distance, consistent with terminal bidentate coordination. However, the NMR data of the IDA system suggest that 1,7-coordination is the more likely. The stability constants of the three complexes were determined by potentiometric titrations; the log beta values are 9.90 +/-, 16.42 +/-, and 10.80 +/- for the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2 uranyl-IDA complexes, respectively, and 5.77 +/-, 7.84 +/-, and 4.29 +/- for the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2 uranyl-ODA complexes, respectively. The thermodynamic constants for the complexes were calculated from calorimetric titrations; the enthalpy changes (kJ mol(-)(1)) and entropy changes (J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)) of complexation for the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2 complexes respectively are the following. IDA: 12 +/- 2, 230 +/- 8; 8 +/- 2, 151 +/- 9; -33 +/- 3, -283 +/- 11. ODA: 26 +/- 2, 198 +/- 12; 20 +/- 2, 106 +/- 8; -24 +/- 2; -219 +/- 8.     

Sorption-photometric and test determination of lead in environmental materials

The main analytical characteristics of the reaction of hexaoxacycloazochrom with lead were determined. A method for the sorption preconcentration of lead on the Thiopan 14 sorbent was proposed. Procedures were developed for the photometric determination of lead in natural waters, air, and soil at the level of the maximum permissible concentration. A new melange gel technique for preparing silicic acid xerogels modified with hexaoxacycloazochrom was developed for the test determination of lead in environmental samples at the level of the maximum permissible concentration.     

Radiochemical methods in nuclear waste management

Radiochemical techniques play an important role in nuclear waste management studies at the Centre for Analytical Research in the Environment. Current research includes the measurement of atmospheric emissions from a reprocessing plant, modelling of environmental pathways, and evaluation of reactor materials for the prediction of releases from ultimate disposal sites. A radiochemical separation procedure has been developed for¹²⁹I, which has been applied to a study of emissions from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant. Atmospheric emissions, rainfall, grass, milk and wild food are analysed to model the ultimate fate of¹²⁹I. A new procedure has been developed for measuring sub-ppm concentrations of chlorine in archive steel samples as part of programme to produce an inventory of arisings of³⁶Cl from nuclear power stations. The method has been extended to other reactor materials and this paper describes the application of the radiochemical method for Magnox alloys, mild steel and cast iron.     

Fixation and reduction of molecular nitrogen by [WH4(PC2H5Ph2)4] and [WH4(PCH3Ph2)4] in a γ-radiation field

Hydride complexes of W(IV) with dpep (diphenylethylphosphine) and dpmp (diphenylmethylphosphine) were irradiated in thf+C₆H₁₂(11) solutions, saturated with N₂+H₂(13). Radiation yields of hydrazine, ammonia and amines were evaluated. The mechanism of reduction of molecular nitrogen is discussed.     

Thermische Zersetzung von CuInSe2, LiInSe2 und LiInTe2

The thermal decompositions of CuInSe₂, LiInSe₂ and LiInTe₂ in vacuum at high temperatures were studied by using TG/DTG coupled with mass spectrometry. For CuInSe₂, two steps were found to be significant. Up to 1000 °C Se₂ and In₂Se evaporate, followed later by Cu₂Se. The Li-containing compounds show similar behaviour. However, Li⁺ was already detected during the first step. Obviously, Li₂Se dissociates more readily than Cu₂Se. No Cu⁺ species were detected up to the complete evaporation of CuInSe₂.     

Ligand exchange reactions with η6-arene-η5-cyclopentadienyliron cations under thermal or photochemical conditions

Reactions of various η⁶-arene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron or substituted cyclopentadienyliron cations with trimethyl, triethyl or triphenyl phosphite under either thermal or photochemical conditions all resulted in the replacement of the arene ligand with three phosphite ligands to give η⁵-tris(trimethyl, triethyl or triphenyl phosphite)-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron or substituted cyclopentadienyliron cations. The yields of the phosphite complexes were higher from photolysis than from the analogous thermolysis. Photolysis of the η⁶-chlorobenzene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron cation (IX) carried out in the presence of a more basic or more electron-rich aromatic ligand resulted in the exchange of the chlorobenzene of IX with the more basic arene, thus providing synthetic routes to cyclopentadienyliron complexes that may be difficult to prepare by other means. New complexes synthesized in this way are the η⁶-2-phenylethyl tosylate-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron cation and the CpFe⁺ complexes of thiophene, 2-methylthiophene, 3-methylthiophene and 2,5-dimethylthiophene.     

Voltammetry of copper species in estuarine waters: Part I. Electrochemistry of copper species in chloride media

Theoretical and experimental voltammetric studies of copper reduction in chloride media show that electrodeposition on the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) is controlled by competitive reduction between Cu(II) organic species and the Cu(I)Cl₂^? intermediate. For reversible Cu(II) species reduction, the change from organic ligand to chloride control of the final reduction step can be predicted by thermodynamic calculation. On the other hand in irreversible systems (e.g. estuarine waters) involvement of the CuCl₂^? intermedite in the electrodeposition is more complex and can occur both before and after amalgamation.     

Hydrophilic polymer membranes containing carboxylic groups—I. Acrylic acid—methyl methacrylate—glycidyl methacrylate copolymers

Copolymers of acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate have been synthesized and converted into cross-linked hydrophilic membranes by successive treatments with heat, alkali solution and acidic solution. The copolymerization was carried out in solution using tetrahydrofuran and p-dioxane as solvents. The polymer was obtained as a clear viscous solution at yields of approximately 95%. The polymerization was stopped before gelation took place. This gelation resulted from the reaction of epoxy and carboxylic groups of the polymeric chain. The polymerization time ranged from 3.5 to 7 hr depending on the content of the glycidyl methacrylate in the feed. The monomer mixture consisted of 25–45 mol% of acrylic acid, 40–70 mol% of methyl methacrylate and 2.5–15 mol% of glycīdyl methacrylate. With increasing content of acrylic acid, the membranes became soft and elastic; with decreasing content, they became brittle and hydrophobic. The swelling of the cured polymeric film increased with increase in the acrylic acid content of the monomer mixture and decreased with increasing glycidyl methacrylate content. Dialysis runs were conducted with sodium chloride, urea and a series of ethylene glycols with molecular weights up to 600. The permeability coefficients through the membranes for the ethylene glycols were similar to those through a commercial cellulose membrane (Cuprophane). The permeability proportional to $\text{(permeant molecular wt)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. The membranes showed very low permeabilities to sodium chloride compared with those of commercial nonionic membranes. This appears to be due to the ionic exclusion mechanisms expected for ion exchange membranes.