Extraction of uranium(IV) from phosphoric acid solutions with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoylpyrazolone-5 (PMBP)

The extraction of uranium(IV) from phosphoric acid solutions with PMBP and PMBP-TOPO mixtures has been studied. The synergic extraction with PMBP-TOPO is more effective than the simple chelate extraction with PMBP and both systems are more effective than the synergic extraction of uranium(VI) with DEHPA-TOPO. It is established that the complexes extracted are U(PMBP)(4) and U(PMBP)(4).TOPO for the chelate and synergic extraction respectively. The most probable uranium(VI) species in the aqueous phase (2.9-6.33M H(3)PO(4)) is the neutral complex U(H(5)P(2)O(8))(4). Analytical methods suitable for determination of uranium in phosphoric acid solutions have been developed. The highest sensitivity is achieved by combining the synergic extraction with the uranium(IV)-arsenazo III colour reaction.     

Photometric and spectrochemical determination of gold in iron pyrites, copper and lead concentrates

A photometric and a spectrochemical method have been developed for determining gold in iron pyrites, copper and lead concentrates. In both, the sample is dissolved and gold is extracted from 1M hydrochloric add solution with a mixture of ethyl methyl ketone and chloroform (1:1). Gold was determined photometrically with N,N'-tetramethyl-o-tolidine. Conditions have been found for satisfactorily sensitive and reproducible spectral determination of gold. For this purpose the effect of various collectors and buffers on the evaporation curves of gold has been studied, as well as excitation conditions, form of the electrodes, optimum slit-width, and photographic variables. The sensitivity and precision of both methods have been evaluated.     

Estimating void fraction in a hydraulic jump by measurements of pixel intensity

A hydraulic jump is a sudden transition from supercritical to subcritical flow. It is characterized by a highly turbulent roller region with a bubbly two-phase flow structure. The present study aims to estimate the void fraction in a hydraulic jump using a flow visualization technique. The assumption that the void fraction in a hydraulic jump could be estimated based on images’ pixel intensity was first proposed by Mossa and Tolve (J Fluids Eng 120:160–165, 1998). While Mossa and Tolve (J Fluids Eng 120:160–165, 1998) obtained vertically averaged air concentration values along the hydraulic jump, herein we propose a new visualization technique that provides air concentration values in a vertical 2-D matrix covering the whole area of the jump roller. The results obtained are found to be consistent with new measurements using a dual-tip conductivity probe and show that the image processing procedure (IPP) can be a powerful tool to complement intrusive probe measurements. Advantages of the new IPP include the ability to determine instantaneous and average void fractions simultaneously at different locations along the hydraulic jump without perturbing the flow, although it is acknowledged that the results are likely to be more representative in the vicinity of sidewall than at the center of the flume.     

Turbulence,dynamic similarity and scale effects in high-velocity free-surface flows above a stepped chute

In high-velocity free-surface flows, air entrainment is common through the interface, and intense interactions take place between turbulent structures and entrained bubbles. Two-phase flow properties were measured herein in high-velocity open channel flows above a stepped chute. Detailed turbulence measurements were conducted in a large-size facility, and a comparative analysis was applied to test the validity of the Froude and Reynolds similarities. The results showed consistently that the Froude similitude was not satisfied using a 2:1 geometric scaling ratio. Lesser number of entrained bubbles and comparatively greater bubble sizes were observed at the smaller Reynolds numbers, as well as lower turbulence levels and larger turbulent length and time scales. The results implied that small-size models did underestimate the rate of energy dissipation and the aeration efficiency of prototype stepped spillways for similar flow conditions. Similarly a Reynolds similitude was tested. The results showed also some significant scale effects. However a number of self-similar relationships remained invariant under changes of scale and confirmed the analysis of Chanson and Carosi (Exp Fluids 42:385-401, 2007). The finding is significant because self-similarity may provide a picture general enough to be used to characterise the air–water flow field in large prototype channels.     

The Solubility of Boric Acid in Electrolyte Solutions

The solubility of boric acid [B] in LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl, and CsCl was determined as a function of ionic strength (0–6 mol ⋅ kg⁻¹) at 25 ^∘C. The results were examined using the Pitzer equation

Bubbly flow measurements in hydraulic jumps with small inflow Froude numbers

The transition from supercritical to subcritical open channel flow is characterised by a strong dissipative mechanism called a hydraulic jump. A hydraulic jump is turbulent and associated with the development of large-scale turbulence and air entrainment. In the present study, some new physical experiments were conducted to characterise the bubbly flow region of hydraulic jumps with relatively small Froude numbers (2.4 < Fr₁ < 5.1) and relatively large Reynolds numbers (6.6 × 10⁴ < Re < 1.3 × 10⁵). The shape of the time-averaged free-surface profiles was well defined and the longitudinal profiles were in agreement with visual observations. The turbulent free-surface fluctuation profiles exhibited a peak of maximum intensity in the first half of the hydraulic jump roller, and the fluctuations exhibited some characteristic frequencies typically below 3 Hz. The air–water flow properties showed two characteristic regions: the shear layer region in the lower part of the flow and an upper free-surface region above. The air–water shear layer region was characterised by local maxima in terms of void fraction and bubble count rate. Other air–water flow characteristics were documented including the distributions of interfacial velocity and turbulence intensity. The probability distribution functions (PDF) of bubble chord time showed that the bubble chord times exhibited a broad spectrum, with a majority of bubble chord times between 0.5 and 2 ms. An analysis of the longitudinal air–water structure highlighted a significant proportion of bubbles travelling within a cluster structure.     

Air–water flow properties in step cavity down a stepped chute

For the last three decades, the research into skimming flows down stepped chutes was driven by needs for better design guidelines. The skimming flow is characterised by some momentum transfer from the main stream to the recirculation zones in the shear layer developing downstream of each step edge. In the present study some physical modelling was conducted in a relatively large facility and detailed air–water flow measurements were conducted at several locations along a triangular cavity. The data implied some self-similarity of the main flow properties in the upper flow region, at step edges as well as at all locations along the step cavity. In the developing shear layer and cavity region (i.e. y/h < 0.3), the air–water flow properties presented some specific features highlighting the development of the mixing layer downstream of the step edge and the strong interactions between cavity recirculation and mainstream skimming flows. Both void fraction and bubble count rate data showed a local maximum in the developing shear layer, although the local maximum void fraction was always located below the local maximum bubble count rate. The velocity profiles had the same shape as the classical mono-phase flow data. The air–water flow properties highlighted some intense turbulence in the mixing layer that would be associated with large shear stresses and bubble–turbulence interactions.     

Convective transport of air bubbles in strong hydraulic jumps

A hydraulic jump is a flow singularity characterised by a significant amount of air entrainment in the shear zone. The air is entrapped at the jump toe that is a discontinuity between the impinging flow and the roller. The impingement point is a source of air bubbles, as well as a source of vorticity. Herein the convective transport of air bubbles in the jump roller is re-visited. Some analytical extension is presented and the theoretical results are compared with some laboratory experiments conducted in a large-size facility operating at large Froude numbers. The turbulent air bubble mixing coefficient was found to increase linearly with increasing distance and be independent of the Froude and Reynolds numbers. Overall the study highlighted some seminal features of the air–water shear layer in hydraulic jumps with large Froude numbers (5.1 < Fr₁ < 11.2). The air bubble entrainment in the mixing zone was a convective transport process, although there was some rapid flow de-aeration for all Froude numbers.