Pulse radiolysis study on the reactivity of NO3˙ radical toward uranous(iv), hydrazinium nitrate and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate at room temperature and at 45 °C.

Concentrated nitric acid solutions subjected to radiation produce radicals of extreme importance in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Knowledge of the different rate constants of the reactions involved in this chemistry is needed to improve the efficiency of the process and to define safe operating practices. Pulse radiolysis measurements are performed to find the rate constant of the reaction between NO3˙ radicals and U(iv) in highly concentrated nitrate solution. The optimal stabilization conditions toward thermal oxidation are defined for the considered solutions at room temperature and at 45 °C by adding anti-nitrous agents such as hydrazinium nitrate (HN) and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN). The decay of the NO3˙ radical is monitored and its reaction rates with HN, HAN and U(iv) are found to be 1.3 × 105, 1.5 × 107 and 1.6 × 106 M-1 s-1 at room temperature. The latter value is more than 10 times lower than the one currently used in numerical codes for simulation of the long-term radiolytic degradation associated with the reprocessing and storage of spent nuclear waste. At 45 °C, conditions similar to the reprocessing of spent fuel, the values of the rate constants of NO3˙ radical toward HN, HAN and U(iv) increase and are found to be 2.6 × 105, 2.9 × 107 and 9.3 × 106 M-1 s-1.

Thermodynamics and structure of actinide(IV) complexes with nitrilotriacetic acid.

Nitrilotriacetic acid, commonly known as NTA (N(CH(2)CO(2)H)(3)), can be considered a representative of the polyaminocarboxylic family. The results presented in this paper describe the thermodynamical complexation and structural investigation of An(IV) complexes with NTA in aqueous solution. In the first part, the stability constants of the An(IV) complexes (An = Pu, Np, U, and Th) have been determined by spectrophotometry. In the second part, the coordination spheres of the actinide cation in these complexes have been described using extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and compared to the solid-state structure of (Hpy)(2)[U(NTA)(2)] x (H(2)O). These data are further compared to quantum chemical calculations, and their evolution across the actinide series is discussed. In particular, an interpretation of the role of the nitrogen atom in the coordination mode is proposed. These results are considered to be model behavior of polyaminocarboxylic ligands such as diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, which is nowadays the best candidate for a chelating agent in the framework of actinide decorporation for the human body.

Influence of gamma irradiation on hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquids [BuMeIm]PF6 and [BuMeIm](CF3SO2)2N.

Stability of neat hydrophobic Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTIL) [BuMeIm]X, where [BuMeIm]+ is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium and X- is PF6-, and (CF3SO2)2N-, was studied under gamma radiolysis (137Cs) in an argon atmosphere and in air. It was found that the density, surface tension, and refraction index of RTILs are unchanged even by an absorbed dose of approximately 600 kGy. Studied RTILs exhibit considerable darkening when subjected to gamma irradiation. The light absorbance of ionic liquids increases linearly with the irradiation dose. Water has no influence on radiolytic darkening. A comparative study of [BuMeIm]X and [Bu4N][Tf2N] leads to the conclusion that the formation of colored products is related to gamma radiolysis of the [BuMeIm]+ cation. The radiolytic darkening kinetics of RTILs is influenced by the anions as follows: Cl- < (CF3SO2)2N- < PF6-. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and NMR analysis reveal the presence of nonvolatile radiolysis products at concentrations below 1 mol% for an absorbed dose exceeding 1200 kGy. Initial step of BuMeIm+ cation radiolysis is the loss of the Bu* group, the H* atom from the 2 position on the imidazolium ring, and the H* atom from the butyl chain. Radiolysis of ionic liquid anions yields F* and CF3* from PF6- and [Tf2N]-, respectively. Recombinations of these primary products of radiolysis lead to various polymeric and acidic species.

Scavenging of OH(*) radicals produced from H(2)O sonolysis with nitrate ions.

The scavenging of OH(?) radicals formed during H(2)O sonolysis with nitrate-ions was studied in HNO(3)/NaNO(3) mixture at the constant NO(3)(-) ions concentration ([HNO(3)]+[NaNO(3)])=1 M in Ar atmosphere. Small amounts of N(2)H(5)NO(3) was added to solutions to avoid HNO(2) accumulation due to HNO(3) sonolysis. It was shown that the increase of [H(+)] causes the increase of H(2)O(2) formation rate (W(H(2)O(2)). (W(H(2)O(2)) values reach the plateau at [HNO(3)] approximately 1 M. The (W(H(2)O(2)) ratio in solution with [H(+)]=1 M and pure water was found to be equal to 2.4+/-0.4. It was assumed that (W(H(2)O(2)) increase in nitric acid medium is related to the changing of H(2)O(2) formation mechanism. In pure water H(2)O(2) is formed due to the OH(*) radicals recombination. In HNO(3)+NaNO(3) mixture the mechanism of H(2)O(2) formation consists in conversion of OH(*) radicals to NO(3)(*) radicals followed by NO(3)(*) radicals hydrolysis. Results obtained show that OH(*) radicals recombination mainly occurs in the liquid phase surrounding the cavitating bubble.

Sonolysis of metal beta-diketonates in alkanes.

The kinetics of metal beta-diketonates sonolysis was studied in hexadecane solutions using a UV/VIS spectrophotometric technique. The following complexes were prepared and studied: Cu(HFAA)(2), Cu(DPM)(2), Fe(ACAC)(3), Ni(DPM)(2), Er(DPM)(3), Nd(DPM)(3), Th(DPM)(4), UO(2)(BTFA)(2).TOPO, and Np(HFAA)(4), where HHFAA is hexafluoroacetylacetone, HDPM is dipivaloylmethane, HACAC is acetylacetone, HBTFA is benzoyltrifluoroacetone, and TOPO is trioctylphosphine oxide. Sonolysis was performed under the following conditions: ultrasonic frequency 22 kHz, intensity of ultrasound 3-5 Wcm(-2), temperature 70-92 degrees C, Ar atmosphere. The kinetic behavior of the studied complexes are interpreted using a two-site model of the sonochemical processes. In the case of metal beta-diketonates with high vapor pressure the sonochemical reactions tend to occur in the gaseous phase of the cavitating bubbles. The sonolysis of less volatile complexes first occur in the liquid reaction zone surrounding the bubbles. Sonication of the studied complexes results in the formation of X-ray amorphous products consisted of a mixture of metal beta-diketonates partial degradation products. Heating of as-prepared sonication products in air yields nanocrystalline oxides of corresponding metals.