The complexing power of hydroxamic acids and its effect on behaviour of organic extractants in the reprocessing of irradiated fuels—II

Supercritical fluid extraction and separation of uranium from other actinides

The feasibility of separating U from nitric acid solutions of mixed actinides using tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP)-modified supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) was investigated. The actinides U, Np, Pu, and Am were extracted into sc-CO2 modified with TBP from a range of nitric acid concentrations, in the absence of, or in the presence of, a number of traditional reducing and/or complexing agents to demonstrate the separation of these metals from U under sc-CO2 conditions. The separation of U from Pu using sc-CO2 was successful at nitric acid concentrations of less than 3M in the presence of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) or oxalic acid (OA) to mitigate Pu extraction, and the separation of U from Np was successful at nitric acid concentrations of less than 1M in the presence of AHA, OA, or sodium nitrite to mitigate Np extraction. Americium was not well extracted under any condition studied.

Studies on the extraction of uranium by N-octanoyl-N-phenylhydroxamic acid

N-octanoyl-N-phenylhydroxamic acid (OHA) has been prepared by partial reduction of nitrobenzene with Zn dust/NH4Cl, followed by acylation with n-octanoyl chloride. Structure of OHA was confirmed by 1H NMR, IR spectra and CHNS microanalysis. The extraction of uranium by OHA has been studied as a function of pH, temperature and concentration of OHA. The extraction of uranium was found to increase with increase in pH. Uranium forms a 1:2 complex with OHA. IR Spectra & NMR Spectra of the uranium-OHA complex and slope analysis obtained from extraction studies indicated that the extraction of uranium was due to the formation of a chelate. The enthalpy change accompanied by the extraction of uranium by OHA has been obtained by temperature variation method. The extraction process was found to be endothermic at pH 2 and exothermic at pH 6.

Synthesis and characterization of the solid uranium(VI) dioxo-diacetohydroxamate complex

A novel dry synthesis for the uranium(VI) dioxo-diacetohydroxamate (UAHA) complex has been developed. The complex was generated in >80% yield by mechanically grinding solid uranyl acetate dihydrate (UAc) with solid acetohydroxamic acid in stoichiometric amounts. The resulting UO2(AHA)2·4H2O solid is purified by washing with acetone. The stoichiometry was confirmedviacolorimetric assays for U(VI) and AHA. The analogous ferric trisacetohydroxamate complex (FeAHA) was synthesized for comparison. A novel dry synthesis for the uranium(VI) dioxo-diacetohydroxamate (UAHA) complex has been developed. The complex was generated in >80% yield by mechanically grinding solid uranyl acetate dihydrate (UAc) with solid acetohydroxamic acid in stoichiometric amounts. The resulting UO2(AHA)2·4H2O solid is purified by washing with acetone. The stoichiometry was confirmedviacolorimetric assays for U(VI) and AHA. The analogous ferric trisacetohydroxamate complex (FeAHA) was synthesized for comparison.

The UAHA solid was extensively characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies. The compound did not fluoresce after laser excitation. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were obtained of the complex in D2O, acidified acetonitrile-d3, and DMSO-d6. The solubility was determined over a range of solvents. It was determined that in the purified solid, two bidentate AHA molecules bind to uranylviathe carbonyl and hydroxamate oxygen atoms, a structure analogous to known ferric, nickel, and lanthanum AHA complexes. In an acidic environment, binding is monodentate through the hydroxamate oxygen. And in aqueous solution, the UAHA complex assumes both binding moieties, depending on the pH. This pH-dependent speciation change is demonstrated for the first time.

The easy synthesis and purification of UAHA enables researchers to strictly control reaction conditions; to eliminate interfering salts and water; and to study the complex in the solid-phase.

Spectroscopic study of the uranyl-acetohydroxamate adduct with tributyl phosphate

The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic studies carried out for the system UO2(NO3)/AHA/TBP (uranyl-acetohydroxamate-tributyl phosphate) confirmed the presence of the adduct of UO2(NO3)(AHA) 2TBP with 1:1 stoichiometry for UO2:AHA (acetohydroxamic acid). The spectrum of this complex is identical to the infrared spectrum of the organic phase formed in the uranium distribution experiments with 30% TBP/n-dodecane and AHA present in aqueous phase. Disappearance of the hydroxyl stretching band and a shift in the position of the carbonyl band in the infrared spectra revealed that both the hydroxyl and the carbonyl group of acetohydroxamic acid are involved in the chelate ring with uranium. Also, acetic acid, accrued after acidic hydrolysis of acetohydroxamic acid, was identified in the extraction organic phase.

Manganese-52m for direct application: a new 52Fe/52mMn generator based on a hydroxamate resin

A new generator system has been developed using the 52Fe/52mMn parent-daughter pair. A polymeric hydroxamate resin is used for the fixation of 52Fe, and the short-lived positron-emitter 52mMn is eluted in physiological saline. Preliminary animal studies in rats gave similar results with respect to biodistribution as are obtained for [54Mn] manganous chloride.