Kelly A. Hislop Graduate Program in Chemistry / Environmental Science

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Kelly A. Hislop Graduate Program in Chemistry / Environmental Science Kelly A. Hislop Graduate Program in Chemistry / Environmental Science Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy FacuIty of Graduate Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario March, 1999 O Kelly A. Hisiop 1999 National library Bibliothèque nationale I*m of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington OttawaON K1AON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada canada Your @a Votre reference Ow ma Notre reference The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Librq of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or elecîronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fïlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format élecîronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. The W-Vis / ferrioxalate / hydrogen peroxide sysîern (or " femoxalate" sys rem) couples two weil known reactions to generate a photochernical method of generating hydroxyl radicals for the purpose of mineraking organic contarninants in water. The first is the photochernical reduction of femoxalate [Fe(III) coordinated with between one and three oxalate ligands] to Fe(I1) by light in the ultraviolet and/or visible. The second is the Fenton reaction, between Fe(l1) and hydrogen peroxide. which produces a hydroxyl radical. a very strong oxidizing agent. Kinetics experiments were conducted using a mode1 organic compound (Zpropanol) as a hydroxyl radical scavenger. The eEect of different reagent concentrations on the oxidation of 2-propanol oxidation to '-propanone was investigated using the initial quantum yield of organic compound oxidation as a measure of efficiency. An important aspect of the reaction mechanism is the cornpetition between oxygen and ferrioxalate for the alkyl radical formed from 2-propanol. In both cases. oxidation to 2-propanone occurs, but oxygen is a chain terminator with respect to hydroxyl radical ceneration. whereas the reaction between the alkyl radical and ferrioxalate generates C Fe(I1). This may Iead to the formation of more hydroxyl radicals, via the Fenton reaction. Evidence for this chain reaction was found in the relatively high experirnental quantum yields, which were ofien between 2 and 5. High ferrioxalate concentrations increased the quantum yields, but eventually this effect was attenuated by the reaction between ferrioxalate (or oxalate) and the hydroxyl radical. Under this condition, 2-propanol was not able to react with al1 of the hydroxyl radicals generated and a lower quantum yield was observed. A kinetic modelling prograrn was written to simulate the behaviour of the femoxalate system. A vanety of reactions. most of which are reported in the literature. were incorporated in the mode1 and theoretical quantum yields generated. Ln this way. a reaction set was developed to describe the femoxalate systern. Reasonable agreement was obtained between the expenmental and the theoretical quantum yields. providing validation for the important role of iron cycling between Fe(I1) and Fe(I1I) for high quantum yields. Keywords: femoxalate, hydrogen peroxide. Fenton reaction. Fenton reagent. hydroxyl radical, quantum yield, 2-propanol TO Elizabeth (Betty) Wilson 1 would first like to express my thanks to Dr. Bolton, for his guidance and support throughout this work. His dedication to research and the interest he shows in his comunity is inspiring. 1 am gratefûl to Dr. Mihaela Stefan, who critically reviewed this thesis. Her enthusiastic approach to scientific research and problem solving has. by exampie. taught me a great deal. Dr. Aitken Hoy. whose time in Our group overlapped several of my years here. \vas an invaluable help, especially with the debugging of early versions of the kinetic modelling program, written in Turbo Pascal. A very sincere thanlc you goes to Dr. Truis Srnitli-Palmer, Saint Francis Xavier University. without whose encouragement. 1 might never have returned to university to pursue graduate work. Jolm Van Stone was very helpful. providing assistance with the old Perkin-Elrner gas chromatograph, which required some work before it could be used. Firially, 1 would like to mention those from whom 1 have drawn moral support during the completion of this work: Dr. Maria Koulis. my grandparents and parents. Jan Hislop, and John Higney. CERTIFICATE OF EXAMINATION ... ABSTRACT 111 DEDICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v i TABLE OF CONTENTS vii LIST OF TABLES s LIST OF FIGURES xii LIST OF APPENDICES xv PREFACE svi INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW 1 General Introduction..................................................................................... 1 Organisation of the Thesis ........................................ .............. ................... 2 Definitions ...................................................... ........... ......*..........*.... 3 Ferrioxalate .................................................................................................. 4 Iron and Hydrogen Peroxide ........................................................................ 6 1..1 The Fenton recrction .......................................................................... 6- 1. j . 2 The "Fenton-like " reuction ................................................................ 3 Qtrestions concerning rhe oxidnnt in the Fenton recrction ................ 8 1.4 The photo-Fenton reaciion ................... .... ............................... II I .5.5 The photo-Fenton reuction using complexed Fe ...................... 12 Advanced Oxidation Technologies ............................................................. 13 Applications of the Fenton and Fenton-like Reactions ............................ 14 1.7.1 The dnrk Fenton rectction................................................................ I-l 1. 7.2 Durk cdphotoossisted Fenton-like reuctions ............................... 16 1.7.3 The photo-Fenton reaction ............................................................. 17 I 7. 4 The photo-Fenton renction nsing ferrioxalote ................................ 18 EXPERIMENTAL 20 Chapter Introduction ....................................................... ......................... 20 Considerations behind the Experimental Design ..................................... 20 72.1 Quantr3ing *OH.......................... .. ............................................. 20 2.2.2 Calculating the qrianturn yield .................... ... ........................ 71 The PT1 Quantacount Apparatus .......................................... .................... 22 The Rayox Reactor ................................................................................ 27 Actinometry ........ .. ................................................................................... 28 2.5. l Ferr ioxalate aclinome:ry ................................................................ 28 2-52 Peroxydiszrlfilte actiinornetry ....................... .. ............................... 30 Methods and Materials ............................................................................... 31 2.6.1 Rcagents .......................................................................................... 31 vii . 2.6.2 Irrudzatron procedures .................................................................... 32 2.6.3 Ferrioxalate and Persulfare Actinometry ....................................... 33 2.6.4 Determination of the concenfrntion of 2-pr-opanone ...................... 34 2.6. 5 Determination of formaldehyde ...... ........................................... 35 26.6 Dekv-mination of Hydrogen Peroride ............................................. 36 2.6. 7 O-rygen Concentration Menszrrements ............................................ 37 VERIFICATION OF THE METHOD 38 Chapter Introduction .............................................................. .............. 38 The PT1 Quantacount Apparatus .............................. .......... ..................... 38 3-21 Discrission of possible interferencefrom strlzy light....................... 38 3.2.2 Quantacount conjgzirutionfor H20rphotolysis experirnenfs........ 41 3.2.3 Culibrution of the Qrcuntacormr lamp ............................................. 43 H202Photolysis and the Measurement of Quantum Yields .................... 47 3.3.1 The primury phorochernicul process ............................................... 4: 3.3.2 On the method by which Op is mecmrred: a literutzire revieiv ....... -18 3.3.3 On the irse of 2-propanoi cis a hydro-uyI radical scavenger ............ 54 00.1 Determination using the PT1 Quantacount Apparatus ................... 57 3-41 The reaction rnechunisrn ................................................................. 3; 3-42 Experirnentul resrilts und discussion ............................................... .j9 THE FERRTOXALATE EXPERIMENTS 64 Chapter Introduction ........................ ... .............................................. 64 Mechanistic Studies involving Iron: A Brief Literature Review
Recommended publications
  • Critical Mass Laboratory Solutions Precipitation, Calcination, and Moisture Uptake Investigations
    PNNL-13934 Critical Mass Laboratory Solutions Precipitation, Calcination, and Moisture Uptake Investigations C.H. Delegard G.S. Barney S.I. Sinkov A.J. Schmidt B.K. McNamara R.L. Sell S.A. Jones June 2002 Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC06-76RL01830 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor Battelle Memorial Institute, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY operated by BATTELLE for the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY under Contract DE-ACO6-76RLO183O Printed in the United States of America Available to DOE and DOE contractors from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, P.O. Box 62, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062; ph: (865) 576-8401 fax: (865) 576-5728 email: [email protected] Available to the public from the National Technical Information Service, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • IAEA-CN245-114 Preparation of Actinide Oxides by Thermal Denitration
    1 IAEA-CN245-114 Preparation of actinide oxides by thermal denitration K. Dvoeglazov, A. Shadrin Innovation and Technology Center by ”PRORYV” Project, State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” , Moscow, Russia Abstract. Pyrochemical, hydrometallurgical and combined (pyro + hydro) technologies for mixed uranium- plutonium nitride used nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies are being developed in the Russian Federation for the closed nuclear fuel cycle. The mixture of U, Pu and Np oxides is a goal product of hydrometallurgical and combined reprocessing technology. The choice of a technology for mixed actinide dioxide preparation was made after additional studies of several methods: oxalate precipitation, gas-flame denitration, hydrazine reduction in alkaline media and thermal microwave denitration. The samples of U, U-Th and U-Pu mixed oxides were prepared and their properties (packed density, specific surface area, fractional composition, chemical homogeneousness) were determined. Microwave thermal denitration was chosen as a main method. Key Words: Actinides, Mixed oxides, Preparation, Methods 1. Introduction Use of the recycled nuclear materials for the fresh fuel production is a main advantage of the closed nuclear fuel cycle. The final products of traditional hydrometallurgy technology are actinide oxides. Currently in the Russian Federation, a closed nuclear fuel cycle with a fast reactor BREST- 300 should be demonstrated under the project “PRORYV” on the site of the Siberian Chemical Combine in Seversk. BREST-300 uses mixed uranium-plutonium nitrides nuclear fuel. Combined (pyro+hydro) technology called PH-process [1] and its hydrometallurgical variation [2] are under development for the recycling of this kind of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Preparation of uranium, plutonium and neptunium oxides from their nitrate solutions is a necessary step of aforementioned technologies.
    [Show full text]
  • In Situ Raman Spectroscopy of Uranyl Peroxide Nanoscale Cage Clusters Under Hydrothermal Conditions
    Dalton Transactions In Situ Raman Spectroscopy of Uranyl Peroxide Nanoscale Cage Clusters Under Hydrothermal Conditions Journal: Dalton Transactions Manuscript ID DT-ART-04-2019-001529.R1 Article Type: Paper Date Submitted by the 29-Apr-2019 Author: Complete List of Authors: Lobeck, Haylie; University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering Traustason, Hrafn; University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering Julien, Patrick; McGill University, Department of Chemistry Fitzpatrick, John; University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering Mana, Sara; Salem State University Szymanowski, Jennifer; University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences Burns, Peter; University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering Page 1 of 11 PleaseDalton do not Transactions adjust margins ARTICLE In Situ Raman Spectroscopy of Uranyl Peroxide Nanoscale Cage Clusters Under Hydrothermal Conditions a b c a d Received 00th January 20xx, Haylie L. Lobeck, Hrafn Traustason, Patrick A. Julien, John R. FitzPatrick, Sara Mana, Jennifer Accepted 00th January 20xx E.S. Szymanowski,a and Peter C. Burns * a, b 60- DOI: 10.1039/x0xx00000x Aqueous solutions containing the nanoscale uranyl peroxide cage clusters U60, [(UO2)(O2)(OH)]60 , and U60Ox30, 60- [{(UO2)(O2)}60(C2O4)30] , were monitored by in situ Raman spectroscopy during stepwise heating to 180°C. In solutions 24- containing U60, clusters persist to 120°C, although conversion of U60 to U24, [(UO2)(O2)(OH)]24 , occurs above 100°C. U60Ox30 persisted in solutions heated to 150°C, although partial conversion to smaller uranyl peroxide clusters species was observed beginning at 100°C. Upon breakdown of the uranyl peroxide cage clusters, uranium precipitated as a compreignacite-like phase, K2[(UO2)3O2(OH)3]2(H2O)7, and metaschoepite, [(UO2)8O2(OH)12](H2O)10.
    [Show full text]
  • Fenton and UV-Vis Based Advanced Oxidation Processes in Wastewater Treatment
    UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA FACULTAT DE QUÍMICA DEPARTAMENT D’ENGINYERIA QUÍMICA I METAL·LÚRGIA Fenton and UV-vis based advanced oxidation processes in wastewater treatment: Degradation, mineralization and biodegradability enhancement. Miguel Rodríguez Barcelona, April, 2003 Programa de Doctorado de Ingeniería Química Ambiental Biennio 1998-2000 Memoria presentada por Miguel Rodríguez, Ingeniero Químico, para optar al grado de Doctor en Ingeniería Química Miguel Rodríguez La presente Tesis ha sido realizada en el Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Metalurgia de la Universidad de Barcelona, bajo la dirección del Dr. Santiago Esplugas Vidal, quien autoriza su presentación: Dr. Santiago Esplugas Vidal Barcelona, Abril de 2002 Al Prof. Sergio Miranda, pilar fundamental en mi transitar por la vida universitaria. Por fortuna la vida está llena de momentos como estos. Por ello, nunca abandones, siempre será mejor perseverar y ver como al final todo llega, así como llega el sol cada mañana. Miguel En honor a la verdad, el espacio para los agradecimientos podría ocupar un capítulo de esta tesis, y más que una exageración es una manera de expresar el haber tenido la fortuna de trabajar y compartir con tanta gente y de quienes siempre recibí ayuda, aprecio, amistad y solidaridad razones por las cuales estoy muy agradecido. Trataré sin embargo, en un buen ejercicio de síntesis. resumir sin dejar a nadie en el olvido. En primer lugar quiero agradecer al convenio ULA-CONICIT por el otorgamiento de la beca para la realización de este doctorado al igual que al DR. Santiago Esplugas, quien aceptó ser mi tutor y de quien he recibido amistad, confianza , conocimientos y toda su ayuda para llevar a feliz término esta tesis doctoral.
    [Show full text]
  • Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials
    UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 12-1-2012 Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials Thomas Joseph O'dou University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons, and the Radiochemistry Commons Repository Citation O'dou, Thomas Joseph, "Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials" (2012). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1765. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/4332746 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RECYCLING AND REUSE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS by Thomas Joseph O’Dou Bachelor of Science in Radiological Health Physics Lowell Technological Institute 1974 Master of Science in Radiological Science and Protection University of Lowell 1981 A dissertation submitted
    [Show full text]
  • Choice Based Creditsystem (Cbcs)
    CHOICE BASED CREDIT SYSTEM (CBCS) Syllabus for Chemistry B. Sc. (HONOURS, GENERIC ELECTIVE), M. Sc & Ph. D. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT Department of Chemistry, IGNTU, Amarkantak The Department of Chemistry was started in 2008, and has now grown into a major department for teaching and research within the Faculty of Science at IGNTU. The department offer vibrant atmosphere to students and faculty to encourage the spirit of scientific inquiry and to pursue cutting-edge research in a highly encouraging environment. The key objective of our department is to create good quality human resource through competitive yet inspiring environment for developing their careers. Currently, the department comprises more than hundred students, five research scholar and seven faculties and a dedicate team of staff members. The department offers three years undergraduate B.Sc. courses in Chemistry (Hons.) in the University. In addition it also offers two years M. Sc. and PhD programme. At present the Department consists of about seven research groups working in the areas of material chemistry (Functional Hybrid Nanomaterials), coordination/ supramolecular chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, catalysis, nanomagnetism and Single Molecule Magnets (SMMs), as major thrust areas. The department is doing well in research activities and published good numbers of research papers. The faculty has been undertaking research projects sponsored by different national agencies such as DST, UGC, etc. The most important achievement of the University is the first Department of Chemistry has succeeded “DST-FIST Program – 2017” recognition from Govt. of India, Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi. Many students have been qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) and Joint Admission Test (JAM) Examination for pursuing PhD and M.
    [Show full text]
  • Some Measurement on the Quantum Yield Temperature Coefficient of The
    No. 4 ROBBER FLIES IN EASTERN UNITED STATES 421 SOME MEASUREMENTS ON THE QUANTUM YIELD TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF THE URANYL OXALATE ACTINOMETER AT 254 MM1' "• 3 B. M. NORTON Kenyon College, Gambler, Ohio ABSTRACT This paper reports, for solutions of 0.001 M uranyl sulfate and 0.005 M oxalic acid, a 10-degree temperature coefficient, up to 85°C (using a base temperature of 25°) of 1.02±0.01 at 254 m/x. Measurements in more dilute solutions show a decrease to approximately unity at 0.00025 M uranyl sulfate—0.00125 M oxalic acid, with indication that it may become less than unity on further dilution. Quantum yields measured (using uranyl oxalate as standard), by students under a National Science Foundation "pilot" undergraduate participation project, on actinometers at 254 rn.fi, were for (1) malachite green leucocyanide, 0.9; (2) monochloroacetic acid, 0.3; and (3) potassium ferrioxalate, 1.24 moles per einstein. EXPERIMENTAL Solutions were prepared using C.P. uranyl sulfate, 4.87 grams, and C.P. oxalic acid, 6.3 grams, per liter, with dilutions to concentrations shown in Tables I and II. Sources of 254 m/z radiation were two Hanovia arcs; in one set-up, a three- fold resonance arc, SC2537, was placed in a vertical position; in the other, a spe- cially constructed helical arc was used. For the results shown in Series (2) of Tables I and II, radiation from the arcs was filtered by Corning filters CS7-54 1Presented at the April 24, 1964 meeting of the Ohio Academy of Science, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
    [Show full text]
  • UNCLASSIFIED Mti a Qa Ma JU L
    ' m ' S § € € UNCLASSIFIED CHBI*71T--»AaAnON KOCtUtl PCR K.IHOKIUM AND URANIUM 106 ALAN08 SCIEXTITIC LASORATOT of t h e m v t m m of c a l it o r * a --------------------------- - IIOA1 MOtiCI TNinpart mm imiw i mm tttt—< W0 *jr 10, 1951 i« | m>i < oHi m$m n * > w m «M h Afei Mpwi, «w Aat At «m «t Mf y — Hu, AwUmJ A Alt npart My « t In- prUnly «m 4 » I. Am « •«, »i* « A A w r f , t t b A t f m wMm A— At — «* —y ld t i t flt \ I* • p « M An Im 4 In Alt Mpait. Ai «iMI» lyakM^pMM AtMata***- pAy— m MHfcMtor «l *• A At «•** A* M l MtfttfM * «M AIt hi tA N O M f Mmtfte* fu*«Manl HMin* THE DECONTANDIATICN Of URAEXUH FRCP PISSXCM PRODUCTS BT THE USB OP THE URAHIL OXAUTI PRECIPITATION REACTION Report written byi DATE APR 12 1957 6. L. Ktlcnner For The Atomic Energy Commiteion mTi A Q a m AJUL Chief. DoelattifiCAtlon Branch ■X msUA m wmm WI | p mmsm COffitt® 1 1 1 * 1 ABSTRACT Decontamination factor* of the order of 10 vert obtain** for R « m and r toitura preecnt at flit loo product* vfata urtnlua vat precipi­ tated fro* 90 a C activity level *olutloae at uraayl oxalate undtr noraal urtniua yield condition* for three cycltt ( r & i ) • Factor* of tha order of 10^ vtrt obtained by the uat of this reaction vlth tladlar tolutloot undtr relatively high urtniua jrlald 0 condition* for thro* eyelet (~9<#).
    [Show full text]
  • BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI 620 024 M.Phil. CHEMISTRY (FT/ PT) Programme COURSE STRUCTURE SEMESTER
    BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI 620 024 M.Phil. CHEMISTRY (FT/ PT) Programme (For the candidates admitted from the academic year 2007-2008 onwards) COURSE STRUCTURE SEMESTER – I COURSE TITLE MARKS CREDITS IA UE TOT COURSE–I Research Methodology and Laboratory 25 75 100 4 Techniques COURSE– II Physical Methods in Chemistry I 25 75 100 4 COURSE– III Physical Methods in Chemistry II 25 75 100 4 SEMESTER - II COURSE–IV ELECTIVE – (Any one) 25 75 100 4 1.Modern Methods of Organic Synthesis 2.Bioinorganic Chemistry 3. Principles and Applications of Organometallic Chemistry of Transition Metals 4.Principles and Advances in Medicinal Chemistry 5.Photophysics and Photochemistry 6 Molecular Modeling and Chemo & Bioinformatics 7. Nanochemistry Dissertation and Viva-Voce 200 ( 150+50) 8 Viva Voce 50 marks Dissertation 150 marks QUESTION PAPER PATTERN ( Paper I – IV ) Part A : Two questions from each unit (without choice). Each question Carries marks (10 x 2 = 20) Part B : One “EITHER OR” questions from each unit. Each question carries marks ( 5 x 5 = 25) Part C : One question from each unit. Each question carries 10 marks. The candidate has to answer three questions out of the five questions ( 3 x 10 = 30) 1 BHARTHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI 620 024 M. Phil. CHEMISTRY (For the candidates admitted from the academic year 2007-2008 onwards) Paper 1: Research Methodology and Laboratory Techniques UNIT I 1. Literature Survey Web search and web publishing – Literature survey using internet – Web resources – Journal access through web –
    [Show full text]
  • United Statespatent Office Patented May 6, 1958
    PROP.U.S.A. 2,833,800 United StatesPatent Office Patented May 6, 1958 .. .. ~lR ; ., ..”., 1 2 The carrier procedure may be effected by any of ~e - - known techniques for effecting adequate contact of liquids 2,833,800 with insoluble solids. PROCESS FOR PWRIFYING PLUTONIUM The use of the carrier procedure for separating pluto- 5 nium from uranium is complicated by the fact that either Donald F. Mastick, Napa, Calif., and Arthur C. Wahl, (a) isomorphic carriers, i. e., those having a crystalline University City, Me., assignors to the United Stafes of structure with cation spacing in the crystal lattice such Ameriea as represented by the United States Afmnic Energy Commission that plutonium ions may be substituted in the lattice for carrier cations, or (b) carriers of the same range of ionic No Drawing. Application December 19, 1947 10 radii are necessary. A carrier must be selected” that is Serial No. 792,834 not isomorphic with any of the contaminating cations or, 1 Claim. (Cl. 260—429.1) in the event this cannot be accomplished, one that is isomorphic with the least number of contaminating cat- ions must be selected and the process repeated. This invention relates to material purification and in its 15 Another possible method for the purification of pluto- & more particular phases provides a method of separating nium which is present in such low concentration that none plutonium (element 94) from uranium (element 92) by of its known compounds will precipitate is the electro- the preparation of a new composition of matter known deposition of the plutonium simultaneously with the elec- as plutonium trioxalate.
    [Show full text]
  • Crystal Chemistry of Uranyl Sulfates and Oxalates And
    CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY OF URANYL SULFATES AND OXALATES AND PERRHENATE INCORPORATION INTO URANYL PHASES A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Notre Dame in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Nancy Elaine Roback Peter C. Burns, Director Graduate Program in Chemistry and Biochemistry Notre Dame, Indiana April 2009 © Copyright 2009 Nancy Elaine Roback CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY OF URANYL SULFATES AND OXALATES AND PERRHENATE INCORPORATION INTO URANYL PHASES Abstract by Nancy Elaine Roback The understanding of uranium chemistry is of increasing importance in the search for clean, renewable energy. Nuclear power can produce energy with no greenhouse gas emissions and far fewer raw materials. One ton of uranium produces power equivalent to 16,000 tons of coal or 80,000 barrels of oil (Nuclear Energy Institute, 2009). However, controversy surrounds nuclear power due to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. There is currently no long-term storage facility in the United States. Yucca Mountain, Nevada has been proposed as a geological repository, but more information on the chemistry of spent fuel components, such as uranium and technetium is needed to ensure safety and secure a license for operation. This research expands the knowledge of uranium crystal chemistry and the ability of uranyl phases to incorporate components of spent nuclear fuel. A novel new uranyl sulfate and three new uranyl oxalate compounds are - presented, along with a study of the incorporation of perrhenate (ReO4 ), as a analog for - pertechnetate (TcO4 ), into uranyl phases. The uranyl sulfate K2[(UO2)(SO4)2H2O]H2O Nancy Elaine Roback crystallized in the Cmca space group and is composed of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids linked into infinite chains with sulfate tetrahedra.
    [Show full text]
  • AN ABSTRACT of the DISSERTATION of Harrison Neal for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry Presented on June 7, 2018
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Harrison Neal for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry presented on June 7, 2018. Title: Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials of Uranyl Peroxide Clusters and Uranium Minerals Abstract approved: ______________________________________________________ May Nyman Frontier research of non-aqueous actinide clusters is discussed. Since the inception of the uranyl peroxide clusters over the last decade, they have only been synthesized and characterized as solid crystals and in aqueous solution. This thesis provides thorough characterization of aqueous uranyl clusters and the first demonstration of uranyl cluster transfer and characterization in organic solvents. Uranyl peroxide clusters self- assemble in mild alkaline solution in the presence of peroxide. Primary solution characterization used throughout this work is Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), giving information on particle size, shape, and electron density contrast. SAXS characterization shows the capsule-structures of clusters are maintained, but unique behavior is observed under further characterization. Hydrophilic encapsulated counterions (i.e. alkalis, ammonium) become isolated in this hydrophobic environment. Immobile counterion environments are specific to cluster identity, allowing for variable-temperature solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of ion exchange dynamics within clusters. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to probe structure of lithium atoms, not visible under x-ray diffraction, leading to an understanding of self-assembly and stabilization of clusters. Research of uranyl peroxide clusters in the organic phase have led to discoveries of a new cluster structures not seen before in an aqueous environment. Study of uranyl species in an organic solution has implications for back-end nuclear fuel processing and separations within the nuclear fuel cycle.
    [Show full text]