Fusion theory for synthesis of the superheavy elements

Recent developments on reaction mechanisms in fusion of massive systems are briefly reviewed, especially on a two-step model. The fusion hindrance observed experimentally is simply explained in connection with the fluctuation-dissipation dynamics of shape evolutions and of two-body collisions. Examples are given for fusion excitation functions and compared with the available data on ⁴⁸Ca+actinide target systems.     

Fluorination of fluoro-cyclobutene with high-valency metal fluoride

Fluorinations of 1,4,4-trifluorocyclobutene and 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene using high-valency metal fluorides such as CoF₃, MnF₃, AgF₂, CeF₄ and KCoF₄, and elemental fluorine were examined. In these reactions with CoF₃ and MnF₃, vic-difluorination proceeded mainly. While, 1,4,4-trifluorocyclobutene yielded 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene, and 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene yielded 1,3,3,4,4-pentafluorocyclobutene mainly in the case of AgF₂. The further fluorinated products were increased under severer conditions. Also, the plausible reaction mechanism was suggested.     

Negative thermal expansion emerging upon structural phase transition in ZrV2O7 and HfV2O7

ZrV(2)O(7) and HfV(2)O(7), which show negative thermal expansion (NTE) in the high-temperature phase, were investigated using X-ray diffraction and heat capacity calorimetry. Two sharp anomalies due to successive phase transitions were observed in the temperature dependence of heat capacity at 345.5 K and 373.4 K for ZrV(2)O(7) and 341.8 K and 370.3 K for HfV(2)O(7). The smallness of their combined entropies of transition suggested that the phase transitions are of displacive type. Effective phonon densities of states (DOS) described by a simple model, and mode-Grüneisen parameters of the low-temperature phase were obtained through the spectrum analyses of heat capacities of ZrV(2)O(7) and HfV(2)O(7). Their effective phonon DOS's show the three features common to NTE compounds: low-energy phonon mode, high-energy phonon mode, and a wide phonon gap in between. The mode-Grüneisen parameter of low-energy modes corresponding to translational and librational vibrations of the constituent polyhedra is negative but with a small absolute value due to the distortion of V(2)O(7) group in the low-temperature phase, resulting in positive thermal expansion. It is revealed that the release of the structural distortion upon the successive phase transitions with large volume increase leads to the NTE of ZrV(2)O(7) and HfV(2)O(7) in the high-temperature phase.     

The application of novel hydrophobic ionic liquids to the extraction of uranium(VI) from nitric acid medium and a determination of the uranyl complexes formed

Novel ammonium based hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs) have been synthesised and characterised, and their use in the liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) from an aqueous nitric acid solution using tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), studied. On varying the nitric acid concentration, each IL was found to give markedly different results. Relatively hydrophilic ILs showed high uranium(VI) extractability at 0.01 M nitric acid solution which progressively decreased from 0.01 to 2 M HNO(3) and then increased again as the nitric acid concentration was increased to 6 M. An analysis of the mechanisms involved for one such IL, pointed to cationic-exchange being the predominant route at low nitric acid concentrations whilst at high nitric acid concentrations, anionic-exchange predominated. Strongly hydrophobic ILs showed low extractability for nitric acid concentrations below 0.1 M but increasing extractability from 0.1 M to 6 M nitric acid. The predominant mechanism in this case involved the partitioning of a neutral uranyl complex. The uranyl complexes were found to be UO(2)(2+)·(TBP)(3) for the cationic exchange mechanism, UO(2)(NO(3))(2)(TBP)(2) for the neutral mechanism and UO(2)(NO(3))(3)(-)·(TBP) for the anionic exchange mechanism.     

Determination of ASP3258, a novel phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor,in rat plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and its application to pharmacokinetic study

The potent phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor ASP3258 contains a carboxylic acid moiety and a naphthyridine ring and is a novel therapeutic agent for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To support the drug development of ASP3258, we developed and validated a simple method for its determination in rat plasma. Following the addition of the analog AS1406604‐00 as an internal standard, plasma samples were processed using C₁₈‐bonded solid‐phase extraction cartridges under acidic conditions and injected into a high‐performance liquid chromatography system with fluorescence detection. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Shiseido Capcell Pak C₁₈ UG120 column (3.0 × 150 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–0.5% acetic acid (50:50, v/v). HPLC eluent was monitored with a fluorescence detector set at a wavelength of 315 nm for excitation and 365 nm for emission. The calibration curve was linear over a range of 2.5–250 ng/mL. Validation data demonstrated that the method is selective, sensitive and accurate. In addition, the present method was successfully applied to rat plasma samples from a pharmacokinetic study. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on processes for recovering uranium from sediment wastes

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Sediment wastes generated from nuclear facilities often contain uranium and iron. From the viewpoint of reduction of environmental impact,...