Metallization of U3O8via catalytic electrochemical reduction with Li2O in LiCl molten salt

The concept of a novel electrochemical reduction process for the treatment of spent nuclear fuels in Li₂O-LiCl molten salt was proposed and fresh tests using U₃O₈ powder were carried out to elucidate the reaction mechanism and verify the feasibility of the process. Electrolysis of Li₂O and reduction of U₃O₈ powder took place simultaneously at the cathode part of the electrolysis cell via a catalytic EC mechanism and the conversion of U₃O₈ to U metal was more than 99%. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Single step synthesis of propionitrile over K/MgO from acetonitrile methylation with methanol

A series of potassium-doped MgO catalysts loaded with KOH up to 15 mol% was prepared and evaluated for a single step synthesis of propionitrile from acetonitrile methylation with methanol. As the amount of potassium dope increased, both the acetonitrile conversion and the selectivity toward propionitrile increased. Based on the activity data coupled with CO₂-TPD and NH₃-IR ones, it was concluded that potassium doping to MgO resulted in the enhancement of both basicity and bifunctionality — methylation and hydrogenation.     

Melting and vaporization of salts in a U-LiCl-Li2O system

Summary The electrochemical reduction of uranium oxide in the treatment of spent nuclear fuel requires a characterization of the LiCl-Li₂O salt used as a reaction medium. Physical properties, melting and vaporization are important for the application of the salt and thus they have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG), respectively. Experimental data suggest LiCl and Li₂O compound formations, leading to a melting point depression of the LiCl and a co-vaporization of the LiCl-Li₂O salt.     

Controlling the spectrum of high-power terahertz radiation from a laser-driven plasma wave

Generation of strong THz waves is a very important and difficult research issue. We performed particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation studies to investigate the possibility of powerful THz generation and spectrum controllability by using a laser-driven plasma wave. Our results show that it is possible to produce spectrum-controllable high-power (>1 MV/cm) THz waves by manipulating the plasma density profiles. This method may provide a good way for coherent high-power THz radiation sources, of which the spectrum ranges from a narrow bandwidth to a wide bandwidth.     

Experimental and Computational Study of the Thermal Decomposition of 3‐Methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol in m‐Xylene Solution

An experimental study of the thermal decomposition of a β‐hydroxy alkene, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution, has been carried out at five different temperatures in the range of 513.15–563.15 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants for the decomposition of this compound in the corresponding Arrhenius equation is given by ln k (s^?1) = (25.65 ± 1.52) ? (17,944 ± 814) (kJ·mol^?1)·T^?1. A computational study has been carried out at the M05–2X/6–31+G(d,p) level of theory to calculate the rate constants and the activation parameters by the classical transition state theory. There is a good agreement between the experimental and calculated rate constants and activation Gibbs energies. The bonding characteristics of reactant, transition state, and products have been investigated by the natural bond orbital analysis, which provides the natural atomic charges and the Wiberg bond indices. Based on the results obtained, the mechanism proposed is a one‐step process proceeding through a six‐membered cyclic transition state, being a concerted and slightly asynchronous process. The results have been compared with those obtained previously by us (Struct Chem 2013, 24, 1811–1816) for the thermal decomposition of 3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution. We can conclude that in the compound studied in this work, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, the effect of substitution at position 3 by a weakly activating CH₃ group is the stabilization of the transition state formed in the reaction and therefore a small increase in the rate of thermal decomposition.     

Synthesis and evaluation of triphenylphosphonium conjugated 18F-labeled silica nanoparticles for PET imaging

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Accumulation of triphenylphosphonium (TPP) is normally observed in the mitochondria from the extracellular spaces due to the high difference in...     

Structural and Kinetic Aspects of Blood Plasma Protein Adsorption on the Surface of Hydrophobic Polymers

Abstract

Due to the wide use of polymers in medicine, researchers are required to solve a very important problem–to understand the interaction between materials of nonphysiological origin and the surrounding biological liquids, and tissues, particularly blood.