Multinuclear complex formation between Ca(II) and gluconate ions in hyperalkaline solutions.

Alkaline solutions containing polyhydroxy carboxylates and Ca(II) are typical in cementitious radioactive waste repositories. Gluconate (Gluc(-)) is a structural and functional representative of these sugar carboxylates. In the current study, the structure and equilibria of complexes forming in such strongly alkaline solutions containing Ca(2+) and gluconate have been studied. It was found that Gluc(-) significantly increases the solubility of portlandite (Ca(OH)2(s)) under these conditions and Ca(2+) complexes of unexpectedly high stability are formed. The mononuclear (CaGluc(+) and [CaGlucOH](0)) complexes were found to be minor species, and predominant multinuclear complexes were identified. The formation of the neutral [Ca2Gluc(OH)3](0) (log ß213 = 8.03) and [Ca3Gluc2(OH)4](0) (log ß324 = 12.39) has been proven via H2/Pt-electrode potentiometric measurements and was confirmed via XAS, (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, conductometry, and freezing-point depression experiments. The binding sites of Gluc(-) were identified from multinuclear NMR measurements. Besides the carboxylate group, the O atoms on the second and third carbon atoms were proved to be the most probable sites for Ca(2+) binding. The suggested structure of the trinuclear complex was deduced from ab initio calculations. These observations are of relevance in the thermodynamic modeling of radioactive waste repositories, where the predominance of the binuclear Ca(2+) complex, which is a precursor of various high-stability ternary complexes with actinides, is demonstrated.

Complexation of Al(III) with gluconate in alkaline to hyperalkaline solutions: formation, stability and structure.

Contrary to suggestions in the literature, it has been proven that Al(III) forms a 1 : 1 complex with gluconate (hereafter Gluc(-)) in strongly alkaline (pH > 12) aqueous solutions. The complex formation was proven via(27)Al and (1)H NMR, freezing-point depression, polarimetric measurements as well as potentiometric and conductometric titrations. This complexation is a pH independent process, i.e., a condensation reaction takes place. The stability constant of the complex formed was derived from (1)H NMR and polarimetric measurements, and was found to be log K = 2.4 ± 0.4. In the complex formed, Al(III) has a tetrahedral geometry, and the Al(OH)4(-) is most probably statistically distributed between the alcoholate groups of the Gluc(-).

Multinuclear complex formation in aqueous solutions of Ca(II) and heptagluconate ions.

The equilibria and structure of complexes formed between the Ca(2+) ion and the heptagluconate (Hglu(-)) ion in both neutral and alkaline solutions have been studied. In alkaline solutions an uncharged, multinuclear complex is formed with the composition of Ca3Hglu2(OH)4 (or [Ca3Hglu2H(-4)](0)) with an unexpectedly high stability constant (lg ß(32-4) = 14.09). The formation of the trinuclear complex was deduced from potentiometry and confirmed by freezing-point depression measurements and conductometry as well. The binding sites of Hglu(-) were determined from NMR measurements. Besides the carboxylate group, the O atoms on the second and third carbon atoms proved to be the most probable sites for Ca(2+) binding.

Multinuclear NMR and molecular modelling investigations on the structure and equilibria of complexes that form in aqueous solutions of Ca(2+) and gluconate.

Complexation of d-gluconate (Gluc(-)) with Ca(2+) has been investigated via (1)H, (13)C and (43)Ca NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solutions in the presence of high concentration background electrolytes (1MI4M (NaCl) ionic strength). From the ionic strength dependence of its formation constant, the stability constant at 6pH11 and at I-->0M has been derived (logK(1,1)(0)=1.8+/-0.1). The protonation constant of Gluc(-) at I=1M (NaCl) ionic strength was also determined and was found to be logK(a)=3.24+/-0.01 ((13)C NMR) and logK(a)=3.23+/-0.01 ((1)H NMR). It was found that (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts upon complexation (both with H(+) and with Ca(2+)) do not vary in an unchanging way with the distance from the Ca(2+)/H(+) binding site. From 2D (1)H-(43)Ca NMR spectra, simultaneous binding of Ca(2+) to the alcoholic OH on C2 and C3 was deduced. Molecular modelling results modulated this picture by revealing structures in which the Gluc(-) behaves as a multidentate ligand. The five-membered chelated initial structure was found to be thermodynamically more stable than that derived from a six-membered chelated initial structure.