Methods of investigation transformation kinetics of yttrium carbonate hydroxide in citric acid solution into yttrium citrate dihydrate

A method of synthesis crystalline yttrium citrate dihydrate was proposed as a result of the transformation of the freshly precipitated basic yttrium carbonate phase in a citric acid solution. The synthesis time was determined on the basis of composition analysis, structure and thermogravimetric studies of samples taken during the synthesis. The research methods used have shown that in the initial stage of the synthesis, the processes of citric acid sorption on basic yttrium carbonate and transformation of amorphous yttrium carbonate hydroxide into crystalline yttrium hydroxide occurs. It is only after 72 h of synthesis that the crystalline yttrium citrate dihydrate is formed.•Synthesis crystalline yttrium citrate dehydrate.•The synthesis time 72 h.•Synthesis components: the freshly precipitated basic yttrium carbonate phase in a citric acid solution.

Nanostructured polymer-titanium composites and titanium oxide through polymer swelling in titania precursor

Polymer (XAD7HP)/Ti⁴⁺ nanocomposites were prepared through the swelling of polymer in titanium (IV) ethoxide as a titanium dioxide precursor. The nanocomposite beads exhibit relatively high porosity different than the porosity of the initial polymer. Thermal treatment of composite particles up to 200 °C in vacuum causes the change of their internal structure. At higher temperature, the components of composite become more tightly packed. Calcination at 600 °C and total removal of polymer produce spherically shaped TiO₂ condensed phase as determined by XRD. Thermally treated composites show the substantial change of pore dimensions within micro- and mesopores. The presence of micropores and their transformation during thermal processing was studied successfully by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The results derived from PALS experiment were compared with those obtaining from low-temperature nitrogen adsorption data.

Tetrad effect in the adsorption of the lanthanides on zeolite Y

The adsorption of the lanthanides (except for Pm) on the zeolite Y was investigated under various solution conditions of nitrate ion concentration ([NO(-)(3)]: 0.001-2 mol/dm(3)) and total lanthanide concentration (from 0.0001 to 0.001 mol/dm(3)). The solutions of the lanthanide nitrates were equilibrated with the zeolite samples at 296 K. The concentrations of lanthanides in the initial and equilibrium solutions were determined by means of spectrophotometrical method with Arsenazo III reagent and distribution constants K(d) of the lanthanides between aqueous and zeolite phases were calculated. The evident concave tetrad effect in the change of logK(d) values (nitrate concentrations 0.4-2 mol/dm(3)) within the lanthanide series was noticed and an attempt at its explanation through the comparison of covalence in LnO bonds existing in triple bond AlO(1/3Ln)Si triple bond species in the zeolite phase and in Ln(NO(3))(2+) complexes forming in the aqueous phase was presented. The weak convex tetrad effect for equilibrium nitrate concentrations 0.001-0.32 mol/dm(3), manifesting in the change of logK(d) values and in the alteration of logK (adsorption constants), is evidence of the complexation of the tripositive lanthanide ions by the oxygens originating both from water molecules and from the zeolite framework.

Application of the SAXS method and viscometry for determination of the thickness of adsorbed polymer layers at the ZrO2–polymer solution interface

The authors studied the influence of the molecular weight of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAM), solution pH and ionic strength, and the background electrolyte type on adsorption and the thickness of polyelectrolyte adsorption layers formed on ZrO(2) surface. Carboxyl groups distributed along PAA and PAM chains were shown to be responsible for their interface conformation, which directly influences the thickness of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte layers. Bonding of macromolecules with solid surface occurs through the hydrogen bridges of these groups. Two methods were applied to determine the PAA and PAM adsorption layer thickness on ZrO(2), i.e., SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) and viscometry. Despite some limitations of the SAXS method resulting from the relationship between the size of solid pores, polymer molecular weight, and conformation of the adsorbed macromolecule, all obtained SAXS results were very close to those calculated from viscometry data.