Characterization and Comparison of Cm(III) and Eu(III) Complexed with 2,6-Di(5,6-dipropyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine Using EXAFS, TRFLS, and Quantum-Chemical Methods

The complexation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) with 2,6-di(5,6-dipropyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine (n-C3H7-BTP) in nonaqueous organic solution is studied with extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Bond lengths are the same in both complexes. Quantum-chemical calculations performed at different levels support this finding. On the other hand, the Cm.(n-C3H7-BTP)3 complex is formed at much lower ligand-to-metal concentration ratio than the Eu.(n-C3H7-BTP)3 complex, as shown by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. This is in good agreement with n-C3H7-BTP's high selectivity for trivalent actinides over lanthanides in liquid-liquid extraction.

Effect of humic acid on the sorption of Cm(III) ontoγ-Al2O3studied by the time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy

Sorption of Cm(III) ontoγ-alumina coated with humic acid (HA) is studied by the Time Resolved Laser Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS). The experiments are performed at 0.1 M NaClO4, 0.44 g/Lγ-Al2O3, 10 mg/L HA and at a metal ion concentration of 2×10-7mol/L. At the investigated pH range (4 to 10) HA is completely sorbed to γ-Al2O3. The excitation spectrum of Cm(III) bound to HA/γ-Al2O3in the wavelength range 370-400 nm exhibits broad flat bands very different from those obtained for the Cm(III) aquo ion and the Cm(III)-γ-Al2O3surface complex, respectively. The spectrum, lacking distinctive structure due to intramolecular energy transfer processes, points to the predominant binding of the Cm(III) to surface-bound HA. TRLFS experiments performed at two different excitation wavelengths (λex=355 and 396.6 nm) allow for a differentiation of humic-bound and non-humic-bound Cm(III). Differences in fluorescence spectra obtained at the different excitation wavelengths are found at pH<6.9. They are due to the presence of the non-complexed Cm(III) aquo ion which is not detected in the indirect excitation mode (λex=355 nm). At pH≥7, the fluorescence spectra obtained by indirect and direct excitation become congruent and again point to the existence of only humic-bound Cm(III) species. Comparison of peak maxima and fluorescence lifetimes for Cm(III)-HA and Cm(III)-HA/γ-Al2O3, however, reveal differences. The results clearly indicate a contribution of theγ-Al2O3surface to the Cm(III) binding and, thus, suggest the formation of ternary complexes such as >Al-O-Cm(III)(HA).

EXAFS investigation of uranium(VI) complexes formed at Bacillus cereus and Bacillus sphaericus surfaces

Uranium(VI) complex formation at vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus sphaericus was studied using uranium L II-edge and L III-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. A comparison of the measured equatorial U-O distances and other EXAFS structural parameters of uranyl species formed at the Bacillus strains with those of the uranyl structure family indicates that the uranium is predominantly bound as uranyl complexes with phosphoryl residues.

X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy of plutonium complexes with bacillus sphaericus

Knowledge of the plutonium complexes formed with bacterial cells is critical for predicting the influence of microbial interactions on the migration behavior of actinides in the environment. This investigation describes the interaction of plutonium(VI) with cells of the aerobic soil bacteria, Bacillus sphaericus. The studies include the quantification of carboxylate and phosphate functional groups on the cell walls by potentiometric titration and the determination of the plutonium speciation by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). Extended-XAFS (EXAFS) was used to determine the identity of the Pu(VI) interfacial complex with the bacteria, and the Pu(VI) was found primarily bound to phosphate groups on the cell surface. No carboxylate complexation was detected.

NMR and TRLFS studies of Ln(iii) and An(iii) C5-BPP complexes

C5-BPP is a highly efficient N-donor ligand for the separation of trivalent actinides, An(iii), from trivalent lanthanides, Ln(iii). The molecular origin of the selectivity of C5-BPP and many other N-donor ligands of the BTP-type is still not entirely understood. We present here the first NMR studies on C5-BPP Ln(iii) and An(iii) complexes. C5-BPP is synthesized with 10% 15N labeling and characterized by NMR and LIFDI-MS methods. 15N NMR spectroscopy gives a detailed insight into the bonding of C5-BPP with lanthanides and Am(iii) as a representative for trivalent actinide cations, revealing significant differences in 15N chemical shift for coordinating nitrogen atoms compared to Ln(iii) complexes. The temperature dependence of NMR chemical shifts observed for the Am(iii) complex indicates a weak paramagnetism. This as well as the observed large chemical shift for coordinating nitrogen atoms show that metal-ligand bonding in Am(C5-BPP)3 has a larger share of covalence than in lanthanide complexes, confirming earlier studies. The Am(C5-BPP)3 NMR sample is furthermore spiked with Cm(iii) and characterized by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), yielding important information on the speciation of trace amounts of minor complex species.

Differences of Eu(iii) and Cm(iii) chemistry in ionic liquids: investigations by TRLFS

In this study the coordination structure and chemistry of Eu(III) and Cm(III) in the ionic liquid C(4)mimTf(2)N (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) was investigated by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The dissolution of 1 x 10(-2) M Eu(CF(3)SO(3))(3) and 1 x 10(-7) M Cm(ClO(4))(3) in C(4)mimTf(2)N leads to the formation of two species for each cation with fluorescence emission lifetimes of 2.5 +/- 0.2 ms and 1.0 +/- 0.3 ms for the Eu-species and 1.0 +/- 0.3 ms and 300.0 +/- 50 micros for the Cm-species. The interpretation of the TRLFS data indicates a comparable coordination for both the lanthanide and actinide cation in this ionic liquid. The quenching influence of Cu(II) on the fluorescence emission of Eu(III) and Cm(III) was also measured by TRLFS. While Cu(ii) does not quench the Cm(III) fluorescence emission in C(4)mimTf(2)N the Eu(III) fluorescence emission lifetime for both Eu-species in C(4)mimTf(2)N decreases with increasing Cu(II) concentration. Stern-Volmer constants were calculated (k(SV) = 1.54 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and k(SV) = 2.70 x 10(6) M(-1)). By contrast, the interaction of Cu(II) with Eu(III) and Cm(III) in water leads to a quenching of both the lanthanide and actinide fluorescence. The calculated Stern-Volmer constants are 1.20 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for Eu(III) and 1.27 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for Cm(III). The investigations show, while the chemistry of trivalent lanthanides and actinides is similar in an aqueous system it is dramatically different in ionic liquids. This difference in chemical behavior may provide the opportunity for a separation of lanthanides and actinides with regard to the reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

Complexation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) with a hydrophilic 2,6-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-pyridine studied by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy

The complexation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) with 2,6-bis(5,6-di(sulfophenyl)-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine (aq-BTP) is studied in water at pH 3.0 applying time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy. With increasing ligand concentration [M(H(2)O)(9-3n)(aq-BTP)(n)] (M = Cm(III)/Eu(III), n = 1, 2, 3) complex species are spectroscopically identified. The conditional stability constants of the M(III) 1 : 3 complex species with aq-BTP are log β(03) = 12.2 for Cm(III) and log β(03) = 10.2 for Eu(III). The complexation reaction is enthalpy- and entropy-driven for both metal ions, while the enthalpy change ΔH(03) is 9.7 kJ mol(-1) more negative for Cm(III); changes in ΔS(03) are marginal. The difference in ΔG(03) of -12.7 kJ mol(-1) between the formation of the [M(aq-BTP)(3)] complexes agrees with aq-BTP's selectivity in liquid-liquid extraction studies.

Complexation of Cm(III) with aqueous silicic acid

The complexation of248Cm(III) with aqueous silicic acid is investigated in the pH range of 1.5–9.0 in 0.03 M NaCl with varying the silicate concentration under and over saturation in reference to the solubility of amorphous silica in order to characterize the reaction with monosilicic and polysilicic acid. Speciation is made by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) in combination with radiometric quantification. Three different complexation products are observed: Cm-silicate(I), Cm-silicate(II) and Cm-silicate(III). The first and second species are formed in under-saturation of silicic acid, whereas all three species are produced in over-saturation of silicic acid. The formation of Cm-silicate(I) following the reaction of Cm3+with H3SiO4−appears in both under and over-saturation of silicic acid only as a minor fraction at pH=4–7. Cm-silicate(II) and Cm-silicate(III) are found to be colloidal. Cm-silicate(II) shows its spectroscopic characteristics varying with the experimental condition, whereas Cm-silicate(III) formed exclusively with polysilicic acid remains consistent and stable. The experimental results indicate that a species conversion takes place as Cm-silicate(I) → Cm-silicate(II) → Cm-silicate(III) with increasing pH and silicon concentration. Only the reaction leading to the formation of Cm-silicate(I) can be quantified for its stability constant as logβ°=7.74±0.08.

Spectroscopic studies on the interaction of U(VI) with Bacillus sphaericus

We studied the interaction of U(VI) with vegetative cells, heat killed cells, spores, and decomposed cells of Bacillus sphaericus. The characterization of the formed complexes was performed by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). We observed no significant differences in the sorption behavior of vegetative and heat killed cells, whereas the spores showed a higher sorption of U(VI) (related to their dry weight). Regardless of the higher relative sorption of the spores of B. sphaericus, the fluorescence and EXAFS spectra of the vegetative cells, heat killed cells and spores were almost identical. Analysis of the data proved that U(VI) forms inner sphere complexes with organic bound phosphate groups on the cell surface. We observed no significant differences in the coordination numbers and the distances of the oxygen and phosphorus atoms in the inner coordination sphere.

After eight weeks, the vegetative cells of B. sphaericus were completely decomposed. Lysing of the cell walls and activity of enzymes led to a release of various decomposition products. We found that large amounts of H2PO4 − were released which caused a quantitative precipitation of bacterial U(VI) as UO2(H2PO4)2. The H2PO4 − was detected by Raman spectroscopy. The decomposed bacterial suspension showed the same fluorescence spectrum as UO2(H2PO4)2 which differed significantly from those of the bacterial U(VI) surface complexes.

Exploring electronic effects on the partitioning of actinides(iii) from lanthanides(iii) using functionalised bis-triazinyl phenanthroline ligands

Revealing how soft N-type donor ligands achieve minor actinide selectivity is fundamental in the design of new and improved extractants for advanced future fuel cycles.

EXAFS and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) investigations of the structure of Cm(iii)/Eu(iii) complexed with di(chlorophenyl)dithiophosphinic acid and different synergistic agents

The complexes of trivalent actinide curium (Cm(III)) with di(chlorophenyl)dithiophosphinic acid ((ClPh)2PSSH) and three different neutral complexing agents as synergists in tert-butylbenzene are studied by EXAFS and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The results are compared with those from the corresponding europium (Eu(III)) complexes. The aim of these investigations is to understand the chemical interactions responsible for the high selectivity of the synergistic systems of (ClPh)2PSSH and neutral complexing agents tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, tributylphosphate and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate for trivalent actinide cations in liquid-liquid extraction. In our structural chemistry study, we find that the inner coordination sphere of extracted Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes are different. In all complexes the (ClPh)2PSSH is bound to the metal cation in a bidentate fashion and the oxygen donor of the neutral complexing agent used as synergist is directly coordinated to the metal cation. Comparison of the Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes shows that Cm(III) preferentially binds to the sulfur of (ClPh)2PSSH, whereas Eu(III) is preferentially bound to oxygen. A good selectivity in liquid-liquid extraction is correlated with a high ratio of the sulfur coordination number to oxygen coordination number. This leads to the conclusion that the observed differences in the coordination structure between Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes play an important role in the selectivity of these extraction systems.