Solvent extraction of U(VI) by trioctylphosphine oxide using a room-temperature ionic liquid

The unique physical and chemical properties of room-temperature ionic liquids(RTILs) have recently received increasing attention as solvent alternatives for possible application in the field of nuclear industry, particularly in liquid-liquid separations of radioactive nuclides. We investigated solvent extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solutions into a commonly used ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide([C4mim][NTf2]) using trioctylphosphine oxide(TOPO) as an extractant. The effects of contact time, TOPO concentration, acidity, and nitrate ions on the U(VI) extraction are discussed in detail. The extraction mechanism was proposed based on slope analysis and UV-Vis measurement. The results clearly show that TOPO/[C4mim][NTf2] provides a highly efficient extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solution under near-neutral conditions. When the TOPO concentration was 10 mmol/L, the extraction of 1 mmol/L U(VI) was almost complete( 97%). Both the extraction efficiency and distribution coefficient were much larger than in conventional organic solvents such as dichloromethane. Slope analysis confirmed that three TOPO molecules in [C4mim][NTf2] bound with one U(VI) ion and one nitrate ion was also involved in the complexation and formed the final extracted species of [UO2(NO3)(TOPO)3]+. Such a complex suggests that extraction occurs by a cation-exchange mode, which was subsequently evidenced by the fact that the concentration of C4mim+ in the aqueous phase increased linearly with the extraction percent of U(VI) recorded by UV-Vis measurement.     

[UIII{N(SiMe2tBu)2}3]: A Structurally Authenticated Trigonal Planar Actinide Complex

We report the synthesis and characterization of the uranium(III) triamide complex [U^III(N**)₃] [ 1 , N**=N(SiMe₂tBu)₂^?]. Surprisingly, complex 1 exhibits a trigonal planar geometry in the solid state, which is unprecedented for three‐coordinate actinide complexes that have exclusively adopted trigonal pyramidal geometries to date. The characterization data for [U^III(N**)₃] were compared with the prototypical trigonal pyramidal uranium(III) triamide complex [U^III(N“)₃] (N”=N(SiMe₃)₂^?), and taken together with theoretical calculations it was concluded that pyramidalization results in net stabilization for [U^III(N“)₃], but this can be overcome with very sterically demanding ligands, such as N**. The planarity of 1 leads to favorable magnetic dynamics, which may be considered in the future design of U^III single‐molecule magnets.     

Engineering Short Peptide Sequences for Uranyl Binding

Peptides are interesting tools to rationalize uranyl–protein interactions, which are relevant to uranium toxicity in vivo. Structured cyclic peptide scaffolds were chosen as promising candidates to coordinate uranyl thanks to four amino acid side chains pre‐oriented towards the dioxo cation equatorial plane. The binding of uranyl by a series of decapeptides has been investigated with complementary analytical and spectroscopic methods to determine the key parameters for the formation of stable uranyl–peptide complexes. The molar ellipticity of the uranyl complex at 195 nm is directly correlated to its stability, which demonstrates that the β‐sheet structure is optimal for high stability in the peptide series. Cyclodecapeptides with four glutamate residues exhibit the highest affinities for uranyl with log K_C=8.0–8.4 and, therefore, appear as good starting points for the design of high‐affinity uranyl‐chelating peptides.     

Coordination and Redox Isomerization in the Reduction of a Uranium(III) Monoarene Complex

Synthetic studies on the redox chemistry of trivalent uranium monoarene complexes were undertaken with a complex derived from the chelating tris(aryloxide)arene ligand (^Ad,MeArO)₃mes^3?. Cyclic voltammetry of [{(^Ad,MeArO)₃mes}U^III] ( 1 ) revealed a nearly reversible and chemically accessible reduction at ?2.495 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺—the first electrochemical evidence for a formally divalent uranium complex. Chemical reduction of 1 indicates that reduction induces coordination and redox isomerization to form a uranium(IV) hydride, and addition of a crown ether results in hydride insertion into the coordinated arene to afford uranium(IV) complexes. This stoichiometric reaction sequence provides structural insight into the mechanism of arene functionalization at diuranium inverted sandwich complexes.     

Nature of the Arsonium-Ylide Ph3As=CH2 and a Uranium(IV) Arsonium–Carbene Complex

Treatment of [Ph₃EMe][I] with [Na{N(SiMe₃)₂}] affords the ylides [Ph₃E=CH₂] (E=As, 1As ; P, 1P ). For 1As this overcomes prior difficulties in the synthesis of this classical arsonium-ylide that have historically impeded its wider study. The structure of 1As has now been determined, 45 years after it was first convincingly isolated, and compared to 1P , confirming the long-proposed hypothesis of increasing pyramidalisation of the ylide-carbon, highlighting the increasing dominance of E⁺−C⁻ dipolar resonance form (sp³-C) over the E=C ene π-bonded form (sp²-C), as group 15 is descended. The uranium(IV)–cyclometallate complex [U{N(CH₂CH₂NSiPrⁱ₃)₂(CH₂CH₂SiPrⁱ₂CH(Me)CH₂)}] reacts with 1As and 1P by α-proton abstraction to give [U(Tren^TIPS)(CHEPh₃)] (Tren^TIPS=N(CH₂CH₂NSiPrⁱ₃)₃; E=As, 2As ; P, 2P ), where 2As is an unprecedented structurally characterised arsonium-carbene complex. The short U−C distances and obtuse U-C-E angles suggest significant U=C double bond character. A shorter U−C distance is found for 2As than 2P , consistent with increased uranium- and reduced pnictonium-stabilisation of the carbene as group 15 is descended, which is supported by quantum chemical calculations.     

Preparative isolation of arylbutanoid‐type phenol [(‐)‐rhododendrin] with peak tailing on conventional C18 column using middle chromatogram isolated gel column coupled with reversed‐phase liquid chromatography

Reversed‐phase liquid chromatography coupled with middle chromatogram isolated gel column was employed for the efficient preparative separation of the arylbutanoid‐type phenol [(‐)‐rhododendrin] from Saxifraga tangutica. Universal C18 (XTerra C18) and XCharge C18 columns were compared for (‐)‐rhododendrin fraction analysis and preparation. Although tailing and overloading occurred on the XTerra C18 column, the positively charged reversed‐phase C18 column (XCharge C18) overcame these drawbacks, allowing for favorable separation resolution, even when loading at a on a preparative scale (3.69 mg per injection). The general separation process was as follows. First, 365.0 mg of crude (‐)‐rhododendrin was enriched from 165 g Saxifraga tangutica extract via a middle chromatogram isolated gel column. Second, separation was performed on an XTerra C18 preparative column, from which 73.8 mg of the target fraction was easily obtained. Finally, the 24.0 mg tailing peak of (‐)‐rhododendrin on XTerra C18 column was selectively purified on the XCharge C18 analytical column. These results demonstrate that the tailing nonalkaloid peaks can be effectively used for preparative isolation on XCharge C18 columns.     

航空成像光谱的蚀变信息提取技术

 根据成像光谱仪CASI/SASI的影像特点,制定了高光谱影像的处理方法流程,介绍了各步骤的内容和需要注意的事项.阐述了噪声和坏波段去除、大气校正的过程,并提出了一些经验性的处理方法.在成像光谱岩石蚀变提取算法中,根据经验对已有方法进行了改进;在基于特定算法的矿物填图方法中,依据柯坪地区CASI影像中富含二价铁的辉绿岩脉的光谱特征,提出了富二价铁岩石提取算法.经过实地验证,富二价铁岩石的提取对铀矿勘探具有较好的指导作用.通过提取的信息结果与已经矿区或矿点的空间叠加分析发现,富二价铁岩石空间分布与铀异常点分布有很强的相关性.根据富二价铁与铀矿的空间分布规律,提出了断裂+富二价铁岩石的成矿模式.红色砂岩提供铀源,岩脉提取铀成为存储容器.富二价铁岩石提供铀沉淀催化剂的作用,且线性的富二价铁岩石分布区域对成矿更有利.通过富二价铁岩石的提取,在柯坪南部地区新发现了3条铀异常带.     

含磷化合物生物矿化铀的形态转化与机理

磷元素作为微生物生存生长的必要元素,能有效与铀结合矿化成稳定的U-P沉淀或相应矿物。采用混合细菌介导法,添加含磷化合物处理铀污染地下水-沉积物,探究磷和土著菌相互作用下铀的形态变化及产物稳定性。结果表明：含磷化合物的添加使得溶液中铀去除率高达99.84%;改进连续提取实验得知,沉积物中磷作用后的铀稳定态比例约75%。根据X射线光电子能谱分析和改进连续提取实验结果,细菌可以有效地介导U-P沉淀,含磷化合物可以与六价铀络合形成稳定的沉淀物,结合X射线衍射表明在细菌作用下,磷与铀发生生物矿化可生成Ca-U-P沉淀,实现铀从可转移相到稳定相的转化与固定。     

铀床氚残留量的测量

分别采用直接测量法、同位素交换法和溶解法测量铀床中的氚残留量, 并分析了这三种测量方法在本实验条件下的误差. 直接测量法测量铀床的氚残留量的结果如下: 铀床的氚残留量为2.68%, 即每克铀含(0.0308±0.0003) mmol 氚气; 当压力读数在1500～133332 Pa之间时, 基于理想气体状态方程的测量方法(简称PVT法)的标准差小于0.95%. 同位素交换法测量铀床氚的结果如下: 加热充分解吸过的铀床经多次同位素交换后, 其交换效率仅为2.84%, 即不到3%(摩尔分数)的氚被氘气载带出来, 其同位素交换法测量的标准差为7.35%. 溶解法能够彻底地测量铀床中残留的氚, 其溶解法测量的标准差为6.49%.