Unravelling the nature differences of halide anions affecting the sorption of U(VI) by hydrous titanium dioxide supported waste polyacrylonitrile fibers in the presence of carbonates

The co-occurrence of halides and carbonates with uranium in the natural water poses a challenge to the uranium recovery for nuclear power due to the potential complexation. Hydrated titanium dioxide (HTD) contains a lot of surface hydroxyl (-OH) groups and waste polyacrylonitrile fiber (WPANF) has the advantages of both weather and chemical resistances. Herein, the nature differences of halide anions affecting the sorption of U(VI) by WPANF/HTD was investigated in the presence of carbonates. The sorption capacity (qe) decreased with the increases of initial pH, total carbonates, and halides but increased at high temperature and initial U(VI) concentration. The U(VI) sorption was a spontaneous chemisorption, which mainly involved surface sorption rather than intra-particle diffusion. The order of inhibitory ability on U(VI) sorption for the four halides was F > I ∼ Br > Cl. The aqueous F- was shown to be the most strongly inhibited with the lowest qe value of 17.2 mg·g-1, due to the formation of U(VI)-F complex anions. The characteristic peaks with weakened relative intensity after U(VI) sorption for the surface -OH groups on HTD (HTD-OH), together with the results from DFT calculations, demonstrated a key role of HTD-OH in U(VI) sorption by WPANF/HTD via the coordination with U(VI) complex anions. This work unravels the nature differences of halide anions affecting U(VI) sorption in the presence of carbonates and provides a valuable reference for the U(VI) extraction toward halogen-rich natural uranium-containing water.

Nanotubule inclusion in the channels formed by a six-fold interpenetrated, triperiodic framework

When reacted together with uranyl ions under solvo-hydrothermal conditions, a bis(pyridiniumcarboxylate) zwitterion (L) and tricarballylic acid (H3tca) give the complex [NH4]2[UO2(L)2][UO2(tca)]4·2H2O (1). The two ligands are segregated into different units, an anionic nanotubule for tca3- and a six-fold interpenetrated cationic framework with lvt topology for L. The entangled framework defines large channels which contain the square-profile nanotubules. Complex 1 has a photoluminescence quantum yield of 19% and its emission spectrum shows the superposition of the signals due to the two independent species.

Woven, Polycatenated, or Cage Structures: Effect of Modulation of Ligand Curvature in Heteroleptic Uranyl Ion Complexes

Combining the flexible zwitterionic dicarboxylate 4,4'-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium (L) and the anionic dicarboxylate ligands isophthalate (ipht^2-) and 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-phenylenediacetate (1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-pda^2-), of varying shape and curvature, has allowed isolation of five uranyl ion complexes by synthesis under solvo-hydrothermal conditions. [(UO₂)₂(L)(ipht)₂] (1) and [(UO₂)₂(L)(1,2-pda)₂]·2H₂O (2) have the same stoichiometry, and both crystallize as monoperiodic coordination polymers containing two uranyl-(anionic carboxylate) strands united by L linkers into a wide ribbon, all ligands being in the divergent conformation. Complex 3, [(UO₂)₂(L)(1,3-pda)₂]·0.5CH₃CN, with the same stoichiometry but ligands in a convergent conformation, is a discrete, binuclear species which is the first example of a heteroleptic uranyl carboxylate coordination cage. With all ligands in a divergent conformation, [(UO₂)₂(L)(1,4-pda)(1,4-pdaH)₂] (4) crystallizes as a sinuous and thread-like monoperiodic polymer; two families of chains run along different directions and are woven into diperiodic layers. Modification of the synthetic conditions leads to [(UO₂)₄(LH)₂(1,4-pda)₅]·H₂O·2CH₃CN (5), a monoperiodic polymer based on tetranuclear (UO₂)₄(1,4-pda)₄ rings; intrachain hydrogen bonding of the terminal LH⁺ ligands results in diperiodic network formation through parallel polycatenation involving the tetranuclear rings and the LH⁺ rods. Complexes 1-3 and 5 are emissive, with complex 2 having the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (19%), and their spectra show the maxima positions usual for tris-κ²O,O'-chelated uranyl cations.

Flexible Aliphatic Diammonioacetates as Zwitterionic Ligands in UO22+ Complexes: Diverse Topologies and Interpenetrated Structures

N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethane-1,2-diammonioacetate (L1) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylpropane-1,3-diammonioacetate (L2) are two flexible zwitterionic dicarboxylates which have been used as ligands for the uranyl ion, 12 complexes having been obtained from their coupling to diverse anions, mostly anionic polycarboxylates, or oxo, hydroxo and chlorido donors. The protonated zwitterion is a simple counterion in [H₂L1][UO₂(2,6-pydc)₂] (1), where 2,6-pydc^2- is 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate, but it is deprotonated and coordinated in all the other complexes. [(UO₂)₂(L2)(2,4-pydcH)₄] (2), where 2,4-pydc^2- is 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylate, is a discrete, binuclear complex due to the terminal nature of the partially deprotonated anionic ligands. [(UO₂)₂(L1)(ipht)₂]·4H₂O (3) and [(UO₂)₂(L1)(pda)₂] (4), where ipht^2- and pda^2- are isophthalate and 1,4-phenylenediacetate, are monoperiodic coordination polymers in which central L1 bridges connect two lateral strands. Oxalate anions (ox^2-) generated in situ give [(UO₂)₂(L1)(ox)₂] (5) a diperiodic network with the hcb topology. [(UO₂)₂(L2)(ipht)₂]·H₂O (6) differs from 3 in being a diperiodic network with the V₂O₅ topological type. [(UO₂)₂(L1)(2,5-pydc)₂]·4H₂O (7), where 2,5-pydc^2- is 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate, is a hcb network with a square-wave profile, while [(UO₂)₂(L1)(dnhpa)₂] (8), where dnhpa^2- is 3,5-dinitro-2-hydroxyphenoxyacetate, formed in situ from 1,2-phenylenedioxydiacetic acid, has the same topology but a strongly corrugated shape leading to interdigitation of layers. (2R,3R,4S,5S)-Tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acid (thftcH₄) is only partially deprotonated in [(UO₂)₃(L1)(thftcH)₂(H₂O)] (9), which crystallizes as a diperiodic polymer with the fes topology. [(UO₂)₂Cl₂(L1)₃][(UO₂Cl₃)₂(L1)] (10) is an ionic compound in which discrete, binuclear anions cross the cells of the cationic hcb network. 2,5-Thiophenediacetate (tdc^2-) is peculiar in promoting self-sorting of the ligands in the ionic complex [(UO₂)₅(L1)₇(tdc)(H₂O)][(UO₂)₂(tdc)₃]₄·CH₃CN·12H₂O (11), which is the first example of heterointerpenetration in uranyl chemistry, involving a triperiodic, cationic framework and diperiodic, anionic hcb networks. Finally, [(UO₂)₇(O)₃(OH)_4.3Cl_2.7(L2)₂]Cl·7H₂O (12) crystallizes as a 2-fold interpenetrated, triperiodic framework in which chlorouranate undulating monoperiodic subunits are bridged by the L2 ligands. Complexes 1, 2, 3, and 7 are emissive with photoluminescence quantum yields in the range of 8-24%, and their solid-state emission spectra show the usual dependence on number and nature of donor atoms.

Theoretical Study of the Excited States and Luminescent Properties of (H2O)nUO2Cl2 (n = 1-3)

The low-lying excited-state properties of the water-solvated UO₂Cl₂ complexes, i.e., (H₂O)_nUO₂Cl₂ (n = 1-3), below 33,000 cm^-1, are investigated based on the ab initio NEVPT2 and CCSD(T) with inclusion of scalar relativistic and spin-orbit coupling effects. The simulated luminescence spectral curves agree well with the experimental spectrum in aqueous solution at -120 °C. Water coordination is found to significantly affect the character of luminescent state, which is changed from the ³Φ_g state in UO₂Cl₂ to the ³Δ_g state in (H₂O)_2,3UO₂Cl₂. This is distinctly different from the observed unchanged nature of luminescent state in the cases of Ar coordination to UO₂Cl₂ and H₂O coordination to UO₂F₂ in the previous work. Furthermore, by combining with the theoretical results for the solvated UO₂F₂ system, the reason why water coordination does not remarkably change the spectral shape of UO₂Cl₂, as opposed to UO₂F₂, was explained based on the analysis of two key spectral parameters, O-U-O symmetrical vibrational frequency and U-O bond length elongation. The roles of ligand field and spin-orbit coupling in the determination of luminescent state character and spectral shape in uranyl dihalide complexes are deeply discussed and summarized. These results deepen our understanding of the luminescent properties of uranyl complexes in aqueous solution.

Zwitterionic and Anionic Polycarboxylates as Coligands in Uranyl Ion Complexes, and Their Influence on Periodicity and Topology

The three zwitterionic di- and tricarboxylate ligands 1,1'-[(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene-1,4-diyl)bis(methylene)]bis(pyridin-1-ium-4-carboxylate) (pL1), 1,1'-[(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene-1,4-diyl)bis(methylene)]bis(pyridin-1-ium-3-carboxylate) (mL1), and 1,1',1″-[(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene)]tris(pyridin-1-ium-4-carboxylate) (L2) have been used as ligands to synthesize a series of 15 uranyl ion complexes involving various anionic coligands, in most cases polycarboxylates. [(UO₂)₂(pL1)₂(cbtc)(H₂O)₂]·10H₂O (1, cbtc^4- = cis,trans,cis-1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylate) is a discrete, dinuclear ring-shaped complex with a central cbtc^4- pillar. While [UO₂(pL1)(NO₃)₂] (2), [UO₂(pL1)(OAc)₂] (3), and [UO₂(pL1)(HCOO)₂] (4) are simple chains, [(UO₂)₂(mL1)(1,3-pda)₂] (5, 1,3-pda^2- = 1,3-phenylenediacetate) is a daisy chain and [UO₂(pL1)(pdda)]₃·10H₂O (6, pdda^2- = 1,2-phenylenedioxydiacetate) is a double-stranded, ribbon-like chain. Both [UO₂(pL1)(pht)]·5H₂O (7, pht^2- = phthalate) and [(UO₂)₃(mL1)(pht)₂(OH)₂] (8) crystallize as diperiodic networks with the sql topology, the latter involving hydroxo-bridged trinuclear nodes. [(UO₂)₂(pL1)(c/t-1,3-chdc)₂] (9, c/t-1,3-chdc^2- = cis/trans-1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) and [UO₂(pL1)(t-1,4-chdc)]·1.5H₂O (10, t-1,4-chdc^2- = trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) are also diperiodic, with the V₂O₅ and sql topologies, respectively. Both [(UO₂)₂(mL1)(c/t-1,4-chdc)₂] (11) and [(UO₂)₂(pL1)(1,2-pda)₂] (12, 1,2-pda^2- = 1,2-phenylenediacetate) crystallize as diperiodic networks with hcb topology, and they display threefold parallel interpenetration. [HL2][(UO₂)₃(L2)(adc)₃]Br (13, adc^2- = 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylate) contains a very corrugated hcb network with two different kinds of cells, and the uncoordinated HL2⁺ molecule associates with the coordinated L2 to form a capsule containing the bromide anion. [(UO₂)₂(pL1)(kpim)₂] (14, kpim^2- = 4-ketopimelate) is a three-periodic framework with pL1 molecules pillaring fes diperiodic subunits, whereas [(UO₂)₂(L2)₂(t-1,4-chdc)](NO₃)_1.7Br_0.3·6H₂O (15), the only cationic complex in the series, is a triperiodic framework with dmc topology and t-1,4-chdc^2- anions pillaring fes diperiodic subunits. Solid-state emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields are reported for all complexes.

Enhanced luminescence of tris(carboxylato)uranyl(VI) complexes and energy transfer to Eu(III): a combined spectroscopic and theoretical investigation

Complex formation between uranyl and carboxylate ligands (benzoate, nicotinate and isonicotinate) has been studied extensively by absorption and luminescence spectroscopy in acetonitrile medium. Experimental data had indicated the existence of stable and enhanced luminescent tris(carboxylato) uranyl(VI) complexes i.e. [UO₂(L)₃]^- with D_3h symmetry. The high luminescence of these complexes was due to the sensitization of the O_yl → U ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) emission by extremely intense equatorial (carboxylate ligands) LMCT bands. The variation in the experimentally observed parameters such as intensity of equatorial LMCT bands, luminescence lifetimes, quantum yields and structural parameters among tris(carboxylato) uranyl(VI) complexes are affirmed by quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory and the computational results are found to be in good agreement with experimental findings. Interestingly, in a very dilute mixture of [UO₂(L)₃]^- and Eu(III), energy transfer from uranyl to Eu(III) is observed and it leads to the detection of europium at trace levels. This is an intriguing observation as none of the previous studies have reported such a low level of detection limit of Eu(III) by means of energy transfer from any metal.

Spectroscopic Determination of Fluoride Using Eriochrome Black T (EBT) as a Spectrophotometric Reagent from Groundwater

Fluoride health problem is a great concern worldwide, most often as a result of groundwater intake. Thus, determination of fluoride is vital to take appropriate measures upon fluoride contamination of water. Potentiometric method of analysis is reliable for the determination of fluoride in various samples. In addition, spectroscopic methods are found important to quantify fluoride levels from water; however, several factors hinder its easier determination. Among the bottlenecks, the use of toxic chemicals and tedious steps in preparing chemicals (e.g., SPADNS method) are to mention a few. In this study, a spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of fluoride from groundwater using Eriochrome Black T (EBT) as a spectroscopic reagent. Experimental parameters that influence the determination of fluoride including ligand type, kinetics, pH, and ligand-to-metal ratio were assayed. Evaluation of fluoride levels showed that Beer–Lambert's law is obeyed in the range of 0.3–5.0 mg/L at 544 nm. The calibration curve, resulting in good linearity (R² = 0.9997), was considered during quantitative analysis of the samples and in the spiking analysis. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of the method were found to be 0.19 and 0.64 mg/L, respectively. The precision studied in terms of intraday and interday at three concentration levels showed less than 5.4% RSD. Applicability of the method was investigated by analyzing groundwater samples spiked with fluoride standards, and satisfactory recoveries in the range of 98.18–111.4 were demonstrated. The developed spectrophotometric method has been successfully applied for fluoride determinations in groundwater samples. Thus, it could be used as an attractive alternative for the determination of fluoride from groundwater.

Varied role of organic carboxylate dizwitterions and anionic donors in mixed-ligand uranyl ion coordination polymers

Two organic dizwitterions were combined with various anionic donors to generate a series of five uranyl ion complexes crystallizing as mono- or diperiodic coordination polymers, with separation into two distinct networks in one case.

Quenching Mechanism of Uranyl(VI) by Chloride and Bromide in Aqueous and Non-Aqueous Solutions

A major hindrance in utilizing uranyl(VI) luminescence as a standard analytical tool, for example, in environmental monitoring or nuclear industries, is quenching by other ions such as halide ions, which are present in many relevant matrices of uranyl(VI) speciation. Here, we demonstrate through a combination of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry that coordinating solvent molecules play a crucial role in U(VI) halide luminescence quenching. We show that our previously suggested quenching mechanism based on an internal redox reaction of the 1:2-uranyl-halide-complex holds also true for bromide-induced quenching of uranyl(VI). By adopting specific organic solvents, we were able to suppress the separation of the oxidized halide ligand X₂^·- and the formed uranyl(V) into fully solvated ions, thereby "reigniting" U(VI) luminescence. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations show that quenching occurs through the outer-sphere complex of U(VI) and halide in water, while the ligand-to-metal charge transfer is strongly reduced in acetonitrile.

Interaction with Simple Monopyridinecarboxylic Ligands Revealing Unexpected Structural Types of Uranyl Halides

The inclusion of monopyridinecarboxylic acids into the structures of uranyl halides results in the formation of unexpected structural units. Molecules of picolinic and nicotinic acids acting as bridging ligands favor the formation of unprecedented dinuclear units in two uranyl bromide complexes, which comprise two metal centers in different, tetragonal- and pentagonal-bipyramidal, coordination geometries. Moreover, the different positions of the nitrogen atom in the molecule of nicotinic acid induce significant bending of the heterodimer. The uranyl chloride complex with isonicotinic acid also exhibits a structure containing metal atoms in two unique geometries. The structure consists of cationic and anionic isolated fragments. The anionic part is unprecedented and represents the first example of a 1:3 uranyl halide unit with a tetragonal bipyramid surrounding the central atom.