M. T. Valentini Ganzerli

Separation of traces of thorium from large amounts of uranium, by adsorption on lanthanum–ammonium oxalate

Abstract The separation of small amounts of thorium from large amounts of uranium was achieved by chromatographic columns loaded with ammonium–lanthanum oxalate LAOX, previously prepared and characterized. Good separation yields were obtained; the recovery of the elements was often greater then 95%. 234 Th , naturally occurring in uranium samples, was used as a tracer of 232 Th in order to study the behavior of thorium. The separation and preparation of a 234 Th carrier free solution was also investigated. During thorium adsorption, trace amounts of uranium may be reduced to the +4 oxidation state. The adsorption step and the washing of the column, before thorium elution, were, therefore, run in the presence of a dilute H2O2 solution in order to prevent uranium reduction.

Thorium adsorption behaviour on mixed ammonium lanthanum oxalate, LAOX

Abstract The cation-exchange properties of mixed ammonium lanthanum oxalate, LAOX, were studied by batch equilibration as a function of the concentration of some cations, such as alkaline earths or ammonium and of some anions and acids. The distribution coefficients for thorium are high, while U(VI) is not adsorbed over a large acidity range. Thus, the separation of thorium from uranium may be successfully carried out. The experimental conditions of adsorption, elution and recovery of thorium were investigated as well, by using chromatographic columns filled with LAOX, in order to set best the separation conditions from uranyl ions. Instrumental neutron activation analysis, ICP emission spectrometry and the UV spectrometry were used to evaluate the thorium, uranium and lanthanum concentrations.

Adsorption of actinides by chelating agents containing benzene rings, fixed on charcoal

We studied the preparation of some specific adsorbers capable of isolating and concentrating actinides. Bases of the 8-hydroxyquinoline family, diphosphineamine and tribenzylamine, salted by benzohydroxamic, benzylic or phthalic acid, are able to complex actinides in different oxidation states. As a result of the presence of the benzene rings, all the compounds are easily incorporated into active charcoal to obtain adsorbers with a highly specific surface. The adsorption behaviors of uranyl U(VI) ion, thorium(IV) and Eu(III) were studied by evaluating their distribution coefficients, Kd. Results show that all the prepared salts can adsorb the ions in the III and IV oxidation state from weak acid solutions, whereas uranyl ion is adsorbed mainly from weak basic solutions. The prepared compounds can be used successfully to absorb and concentrate actinides from nearly neutral solutions, such as natural waters. The 8-hydroxyquinoline salt of the benzylic anion showed the highest adsorption values and thus seems to be the most appropriate salt to use in the analysis of actinides in water.

Characterisation of lead rhodizonate as barium and radium adsorber from fresh water: II. Adsorption behavior of earth alkaline ions

A new adsorber for concentrating barium and radium from diluted solutions and from fresh waters was prepared. It consists of basic lead rhodizhonate, namely [Pb(OH)]2C6O6·PbC6O6·H2O, supported on activated charcoal. It was named LEHRO. Preparation conditions, solubility and barium, or radium, adsorption from solutions of different pH were investigated.

The role of salts derived from benzilic acid and quinolines in the adsorption of some actinides

The adsorption conditions of uranium, neptunium, thorium, europium on the adsorbers containing the benzylate salts of the 8-hydroxyquinoline (adsorber B), and of 2-methyl- 8-hydroxyquinoline (adsorber R), were prepared, supported onto charcoal and compared with an adsorber, containing the benzylic acid, (G), stabilized with d-glucoseamine, and adsorbed onto charcoal as well. Thorium, protoactinium, and europium are adsorbed nearly completely from aqueous solutions at a large pH range, even in low acid medium, whereas uranium and neptunium are completely adsorbed only from basic solutions of pH 9. The actinides are preferentially adsorbed with respect to other ions, which are present in natural waters, such as calcium or magnesium. This feature make the analysis of most actinides in natural waters easily to be performed without changing the pH of the original system. The uranium (neptunium) analysis indeed may be accomplished after adjusting the original pH to a fairly basic value (about to 9). The adsorption experiments from real samples showed that the analysis of the actinides dispersed in natural water systems may be successfully performed after previous concentration on the adsorbers prepare.

Use of inorganic adsorbers in radium analysis

Two new simple methods were studied for the analysis of radium in fresh waters by concentration and purification. Both methods are based on the use of an inorganic selective adsorber, namely basic lead rhodizonate, LERHO, and partially reduced tin dioxide (PRTD). The procedures were checked by using filtered fresh waters spiked with 0.1 Bq of226Ra, and in the presence of few μg/l of barium. In each experiment133Ba radioisotope was added to water samples to measure the yield of the overall procedure by γ-counting. Barium and radium were adsorbed from basic solutions on LERHO packed chromatographic column in the first procedure, while batch experiments were preferred for the adsorption on PRTD. After separation,226Ra and barium were eluted from the exchangers and co-precipitated onto small filters as thin film, supported on an inactive barium sulphate substrate, to be submitted to alpha-and gamma-spectrometry. Both methods gave promising results.