Linfeng Rao

Sequestering uranium from seawater: binding strength and modes of uranyl complexes with glutarimidedioxime

Glutarimidedioxime (H(2)A), a cyclic imide dioxime ligand that has implications in sequestering uranium from seawater, forms strong tridentate complexes with UO(2)(2+). The stability constants and the enthalpies of complexation for five U(VI) complexes were measured by potentiometry and microcalorimetry. The crystal structure of the 1 : 2 metal-ligand complex, UO(2)(HA)(2)·H(2)O, was determined. The re-arrangement of the protons of the oxime groups (-CH=N-OH) and the deprotonation of the imide group (-CH-NH-CH-) results in a conjugated system with delocalized electron density on the ligand (-O-N-C-N-C-N-O-) that coordinates to UO(2)(2+)via its equatorial plane.

Chemical Speciation of Uranium(VI) in Marine Environments: Complexation of Calcium and Magnesium Ions with [(UO2)(CO3)3]4− and the Effect on the Extraction of Uranium from Seawater

The interactions of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) with [UO2 (CO3 )3 ](4-) were studied by calcium ion selective electrode potentiometry and spectrophotometry. The stability constants of ternary Ca-UO2 -CO3 and Mg-UO2 -CO3 complexes were determined with calcium ion selective electrode potentiometry and optical absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. The enthalpies of complexation for two successive complexes, [CaUO2 (CO3 )3 ](2-) and [Ca2 UO2 (CO3 )3 ](aq), were determined for the first time by microcalorimetry. The data help to revise the speciation of uranium(VI) species under seawater conditions. In contrast to the previously accepted assumption that the highly negatively charged [UO2 (CO3 )3 ](4-) is the dominant species, the revised speciation indicates that the dominant aqueous uranium(VI) species under seawater conditions is the neutral [Ca2 UO2 (CO3 )3 ](aq). The results have a significant impact on the strategies for developing efficient sorption processes to extract uranium from seawater.

Thermodynamic studies of U(VI) complexation with glutardiamidoxime for sequestration of uranium from seawater

Glutardiamidoxime (H2B), a diamidoxime ligand that has implications in sequestering uranium from seawater, forms strong complexes with UO2(2+). Five U(VI) complexes were identified in 3% NaCl solution. The stability constants and the enthalpies of complexation were measured by potentiometry and microcalorimetry. The competition between glutardiamidoxime and carbonate for complexing U(VI) in 3% NaCl was also studied in comparison with the cyclic glutarimidedioxime ligand (H2A) previously studied.

Solubility and solubility product of crystalline Ni(OH)2

The solubility of crystalline Ni(OH)2 was studied in solutions of 0.01M NaC104 with pH ranging from 7 to near 14. Equilibrium was approached both from over-and undersaturation, and the equilibration times extended from 3 to 90 days. The solubility of Ni(OH)2(c) in the pH range of approximately 7 to 11.3 was effectively modeled by including aqueous Ni2+ and NiOH+ species. Values of the logarithm of the thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the reactions [Ni(OH)2(c) ⇌ Ni2+ + 2OH-] and [Ni2+ + OH- ⇌ Ni(OH)+] were determined to be -16.1±0.1 and 5.65 ± 0.10, respectively. These data, in conjunction with Pitzer ion interaction parameters given in the literature, were used to model the reported solubilities of Ni(OH)2(c) in chloride, sodium acetate, and potassium chloride solutions. The model predictions for these systems were in excellent agreement with the experimental data from the literature.

Complexation of uranium(VI) with malonate at variable temperatures

Summary The complexation between uranium(VI) and malonate in 1.05 mol kg−1 NaClO4 was studied at variable temperatures (25, 35, 45, 55 and 70 °C). The formation constants of three successive complexes, UO2(OOCCH2COO), UO2(OOCCH2COO)22− and UO2(OOCCH2COO)34−, and the molar enthalpies of complexation were determined by potentiometry and calorimetry. The heat capacity of the complexation, Δ Cop,m(MLj), is calculated to be 96 ± 12, 195 ± 15 and 267 ± 22 J K−1 mol−1 for j=1, 2 and 3, respectively. Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy helped to characterize the coordination modes in the complexes in solution. UV/Vis absorption and luminescence spectra at different temperatures provided qualitative information on the temperature effect. The effect of temperature on the complexation between uranium(VI) and malonate is discussed in terms of the electrostatic model and compared with the complexation between uranium(VI) and acetate.

A Study of Metal-Humate Interactions Using Cation Exchange

Complexes of different strengths between metal cations (Eu and UO!) and humate are distinguished by a cation exchange method using a radioactive tracer technique. The equilibrium and kinetics of the distribution between two binding modes (strong and weak) are dependent on the pH of the system, cation loading and the nature of metal cations. An interactive binding mechanism involving the mode of binding of metal ions and the conformational changes of polyelectrolytes is discussed in terms of polyelectrolyte theory.

Energetics and structure of uranium(VI)-acetate complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide.

The thermodynamics of the complexation between uranium(VI) and acetate in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was studied at 298 K in an ionic medium of 0.1 mol dm(-3) tetrabutyl ammonium perchlorate. The results show that the uranyl ion forms three strong successive mononuclear complexes with acetate. The complexes, both enthalpically and entropically stabilized, are significantly more stable in DMSO than in water. This feature can be ascribed to the weak solvation of acetate in DMSO. The thermodynamic parameters for the formation of the uranium(VI) complexes with acetate in DMSO are compared with those with ethylenediamine in the same solvent. The difference between the two ligand systems reveals that, for the complexation reactions involving charge neutralization, the reorganization of the solvent gives a very important contribution to the overall complexation energetics. The coordination mode of acetate in the uranyl complexes and the changes of the solvation sphere of UO(2)(2+) upon complexation were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy in DMSO and in acetonitrile/DMSO mixtures. In addition, DFT calculations were performed to provide an accurate description of the complexation at the molecular level. The experimental and calculated results suggest that acetate is solely bidentate to UO(2)(2+) in the 1:1 and 1:3 complexes but mono- and bidentate in the 1:2 complexes. The DFT calculations also indicate that the medium effects must always be taken into account in order to gain accurate information on the complex formation in solution. In fact, the relative stability of the reaction products changes markedly when the DFT calculations are carried out in vacuum or in DMSO solution.

Carbonate–H2O2 leaching for sequestering uranium from seawater

Uranium adsorbed on amidoxime-based polyethylene fiber in simulated seawater can be quantitatively eluted at room temperature using 1 M Na2CO3 containing 0.1 M H2O2. This efficient elution process is probably due to the formation of an extremely stable uranyl-peroxo-carbonato complex in the carbonate solution. After washing with water, the sorbent can be reused with minimal loss of uranium loading capacity. Possible existence of this stable uranyl species in ocean water is also discussed.

Complexation of Uranium(VI) by Gluconate in Acidic Solutions : a Thermodynamic Study with Structural Analysis

Within the pC(H) range of 2.5 to 4.2, gluconate forms three uranyl complexes UO(2)(GH(4))(+), UO(2)(GH(3))(aq), and UO(2)(GH(3))(GH(4))(-), through the following reactions: (1) UO(2)(2+) + GH(4)(-) = UO(2)(GH(4))(+), (2) UO(2)(2+) + GH(4)(-) = UO(2)(GH(3))(aq) + H(+), and (3) UO(2)(2+) + 2GH(4)(-) = UO(2)(GH(3))(GH(4))(-) + H(+). Complexes were inferred from potentiometric, calorimetric, NMR, and EXAFS studies. Correspondingly, the stability constants and enthalpies were determined to be log beta(1) = 2.2 +/- 0.3 and DeltaH(1) = 7.5 +/- 1.3 kJ mol(-1) for reaction (1), log beta(2) = -(0.38 +/- 0.05) and DeltaH(2) = 15.4 +/- 0.3 kJ mol(-1) for reaction (2), and log beta(3) = 1.3 +/- 0.2 and DeltaH(3) = 14.6 +/- 0.3 kJ mol(-1) for reaction (3), at I = 1.0 M NaClO(4) and t = 25 degrees C. The UO(2)(GH(4))(+) complex forms through the bidentate carboxylate binding to U(VI). In the UO(2)(GH(3))(aq) complex, hydroxyl-deprotonated gluconate (GH(3)(2-)) coordinates to U(VI) through the five-membered ring chelation. For the UO(2)(GH(3))(GH(4))(-) complex, multiple coordination modes are suggested. These results are discussed in the context of trivalent and pentavalent actinide complexation by gluconate.

Thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and computational studies of lanthanide complexation with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid: temperature effect and coordination modes.

Stability constants of two DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) complexes with lanthanides (ML(2-) and MHL(-), where M stands for Nd and Eu and L stands for diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) at 10, 25, 40, 55, and 70 °C were determined by potentiometry, absorption spectrophotometry, and luminescence spectroscopy. The enthalpies of complexation at 25 °C were determined by microcalorimetry. Thermodynamic data show that the complexation of Nd(3+) and Eu(3+) with DTPA is weakened at higher temperatures, a 10-fold decrease in the stability constants of ML(2-) and MHL(-) as the temperature is increased from 10 to 70 °C. The effect of temperature is consistent with the exothermic enthalpy of complexation directly measured by microcalorimetry. Results by luminescence spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that DTPA is octa-dentate in both the EuL(2-) and EuHL(-) complexes and, for the first time, the coordination mode in the EuHL(-) complex was clarified by integration of the experimental data and DFT calculations. In the EuHL(-) complex, the Eu is coordinated by an octa-dentate H(DTPA) ligand and a water molecule, and the protonation occurs on the oxygen of a carboxylate group.