Complexation and the laser luminescence studies of Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) with EDTA, CDTA, and PDTA and their ternary complexation with dicarboxylates

Eu(III) and Cm(III) Complexation by the Aminocarboxylates NTA, EDTA, and EGTA Studied with NMR, TRLFS, and ITC-An Improved Approach to More Robust Thermodynamics

The complex formation of Eu(III) and Cm(III) was studied via tetradentate, hexadentate, and octadentate coordinating ligands of the aminopolycarboxylate family, viz., nitrilotriacetate (NTA^3-), ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA^4-), and ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (EGTA^4-), respectively. Based on the complexones' pK_a values obtained from ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic pH titration, complex formation constants were determined by means of the parallel-factor-analysis-assisted evaluation of Eu(III) and Cm(III) time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). This was complemented by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), providing the enthalpy and entropy of the complex formation. This allowed us to obtain genuine species along with their molecular structures and corresponding reliable thermodynamic data. The three investigated complexones formed 1:1 complexes with both Eu(III) and Cm(III). Besides the established Eu(III)-NTA 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, we observed, for the first time, the existence of a Eu(III)-NTA 2:2 complex of millimolar metal and ligand concentrations. Demonstrated for thermodynamic studies on Eu(III) and Cm(III) interaction with complexones, the utilized approach is commonly applicable to many other metal-ligand systems, even to high-affinity ligands.

Pu(iii) and Cm(iii) in the presence of EDTA: aqueous speciation, redox behavior, and the impact of Ca(ii)

The impact of calcium on the solubility, redox behavior, and speciation of the An(iii)–EDTA (An = Pu or Cm) system under reducing, anoxic conditions was investigated through batch solubility experiments, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), density functional theory (DFT), and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). Batch solubility experiments were conducted from undersaturation using Pu(OH)₃(am) as the solid phase in contact with 0.1 M NaCl–NaOH–HCl–EDTA–CaCl₂ solutions at [EDTA] = 1 mM, pH_m = 7.5–9.5, and [CaCl₂] ≤20 mM. Additional samples targeted brine systems represented by 3.5 M CaCl₂ and WIPP simulated brine. Solubility data in the absence of calcium were well-described by Pu(iii)–EDTA thermodynamic models, thus supporting the stabilization of Pu(iii)–EDTA complexes in solution. Cm(iii)–EDTA TRLFS data suggested the stepwise hydrolysis of An(iii)-EDTA complexes with increasing pH, and current Pu(iii)-EDTA solubility models were reassessed to evaluate the possibility of including Pu(iii)–OH–EDTA complexes and to calculate preliminary formation constants. Solubility data in the presence of calcium exhibited nearly constant log m(Pu)_tot, as limited by total ligand concentration, with increasing [CaCl₂]_tot, which supports the formation of calcium-stabilized Pu(iii)–EDTA complexes in solution. XAS spectra without calcium showed partial oxidation of Pu(iii) to Pu(iv) in the aqueous phase, while calcium-containing experiments exhibited only Pu(iii), suggesting that Ca–Pu(iii)–EDTA complexes may stabilize Pu(iii) over short timeframes (t ≤45 days). DFT calculations on the Ca–Pu(iii)–EDTA system and TRLFS studies on the analogous Ca–Cm(iii)–EDTA system show that calcium likely stabilizes An(iii)–EDTA complexes but can also potentially stabilize An(iii)–OH–EDTA species in solution. This hints towards the possible existence of four major complex types within Ca–An(iii)–EDTA systems: An(iii)–EDTA, An(iii)–OH–EDTA, Ca–An(iii)–EDTA, and Ca–An(iii)–OH–EDTA. While the exact stoichiometry and degree of ligand protonation within these complexes remain undefined, their formation must be accounted for to properly assess the fate and transport of plutonium under conditions relevant to nuclear waste disposal.

Combined advanced spectroscopy and solubility studies provide evidence for the formation of novel calcium-containing and hydrolyzed (Cm,Pu)(iii)–EDTA complex(es).

Characterization of Americium and Curium Complexes with the Protein Lanmodulin: A Potential Macromolecular Mechanism for Actinide Mobility in the Environment

Anthropogenic radionuclides, including long-lived heavy actinides such as americium and curium, represent the primary long-term challenge for management of nuclear waste. The potential release of these wastes into the environment necessitates understanding their interactions with biogeochemical compounds present in nature. Here, we characterize the interactions between the heavy actinides, Am³⁺ and Cm³⁺, and the natural lanthanide-binding protein, lanmodulin (LanM). LanM is produced abundantly by methylotrophic bacteria, including Methylorubrum extorquens, that are widespread in the environment. We determine the first stability constant for an Am³⁺-protein complex (Am₃LanM) and confirm the results with Cm₃LanM, indicating a ∼5-fold higher affinity than that for lanthanides with most similar ionic radius, Nd³⁺ and Sm³⁺, and making LanM the strongest known heavy actinide-binding protein. The protein's high selectivity over ²⁴³Am's daughter nuclide ²³⁹Np enables lab-scale actinide-actinide separations as well as provides insight into potential protein-driven mobilization for these actinides in the environment. The luminescence properties of the Cm³⁺-LanM complex, and NMR studies of Gd³⁺-LanM, reveal that lanmodulin-bound f-elements possess two coordinated solvent molecules across a range of metal ionic radii. Finally, we show under a wide range of environmentally relevant conditions that lanmodulin effectively outcompetes desferrioxamine B, a hydroxamate siderophore previously proposed to be important in trivalent actinide mobility. These results suggest that natural lanthanide-binding proteins such as lanmodulin may play important roles in speciation and mobility of actinides in the environment; it also suggests that protein-based biotechnologies may provide a new frontier in actinide remediation, detection, and separations.

Ammonium 2,2'-thiodiacetates - Selective and environmentally safe herbicides

2,2'-Thiodiacetic acid derivatives have a wide application potential, mainly in coordination chemistry. This research indicates that quaternary ammonium 2,2'-thiodiacetate salts may also be potent herbicidal agents used in agriculture. To provide a rationale for this statement, the toxic effect by a alkyl and aryl quaternary ammonium salts (QASs) on plant growth was investigated. The phytotoxicity of these compounds was tested against cultivated monocotyledonous (spring barley) and dicotyledonous (common radish) plants, whereas herbicidal activity was investigated in relation to popular weeds species (white goosefoot, sorrel and gallant-soldier). The results showed that aliphatic QASs possessed a low phytotoxicity to food crops and that some of them (in particular triethylammonium salt) had potent and selective herbicidal properties against common weeds, such as sorrel and gallant-soldier. However, the investigated compounds appeared to be ineffective herbicides against white goosefoot.

An influence of structural changes in ammonium cations on ecotoxicity of 2,2'-thiodiacetate mono and bis-salts

2,2'-Thiodiacetates with their excellent complexing properties may be used as metal extraction agents, fluorescent and superparamagnetic materials, antibacterial and anticancer medical agents, however there are no data concerning the environmental impact of 2,2'-thiodiacetates derivatives and data definying the potential hazard connected with their use. This study describes the ecotoxicity assessment of seven 2,2'-thiodiacetates with non-metallic, alkyl and aryl ammonium cations, which were obtained in an environmentally friendly, solvent-free syntheses. The ecotoxicity of these water soluble compounds was tested in aquatic and benthic environments using luminescent marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox^® test) and the crustaceans Heterocypris incongruens (Ostracodtoxkit F™), respectively. The antimicrobial and antifungal activity against Trichoderma viridis, Aspergillus niger, Rhizoctonia solani and Escherichia coli was also investigated. The results showed how structural changes within ammonium cations themselves influence ecotoxicity: the QASs with alkylammonium cations exhibited a similar, rather low toxicity both to Vibrio fischeri and Heterocypris incongruens, and they would not pose a risk to these organisms in case of leakage. Higher toxicity was observed in case of two isoquinolinium salts, however it was rather associated with the heteroaromatic cation, than with the 2,2'-thiodiacetate anion.

[Gd(CyPic3A)(H2O)2]-: a stable, bis(aquated) and high-relaxivity Gd(III) complex

We report the synthesis and MR relevant properties of CyPic3A, a heptadentate chelator that forms ternary Gd(III) complexes of hydration state q = 2. [Gd(CyPic3A)(H2O)2](-) affords an r1 value of 5.70 mM(-1) s(-1) at 1.41 T and 310 K and displays thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness comparable to FDA approved MR imaging probes.