Seven water-soluble, tetradentate bis(3-hydroxy-N-methyl-pyridin-2-one) (bis-Me-3,2-HOPO) ligands were synthesized that vary only in linker geometry and rigidity. Solution-phase thermodynamic measurements were conducted between pH 1.6 and pH 9.0 to determine the effects of these variations on proton and uranyl cation affinity. Proton affinity decreases by introduction of the solubilizing trieth...

The sorption of uranyl onto hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) or hematite was measured by discontinuously titrating the suspensions with uranyl at pH 5.9, 6.8, and 7.8 under Pco2 = 10(-35)atm (sorption isotherms). Batch reactors were used with equilibration times up to 48 days. Sorption of 1 microM uranyl onto HFO was also measured versus pH (sorption edge). A diffuse double layer surface complexation...

We have investigated the effect of changes in solution chemistry on the nature of uranyl sorption complexes on montmorillonite (SAz-1) at different surface coverages (1.43-53.6 µmol/g). Uranyl uptake onto SAz-1 between pH 3 and 7 was determined in both titration and batch-mode experiments. These pH values result in solutions that contain a range of monomeric and oligomeric aqueous uranyl specie...

The Free-Electron Laser for Infrared Experiments (FELIX) was used to study the wavelength-resolved multiple photon photodissociation of discrete, gas-phase uranyl (UO22+) complexes containing a single anionic ligand (A), with or without ligated solvent molecules (S). The uranyl antisymmetric and symmetric stretching frequencies were measured for complexes with general formula [UO2A(S)n]+, where...

The uranyl aryloxide, [UO2(OAr)2(THF)2], and uranyl chloride, [UO2Cl2(THF)3] or [UO2Cl2(THF)2]2 act as pre-catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of propylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide. Coordination of the monomers has been investigated using H EXSY spectroscopy and kinetic and thermodynamic parameters reported. NMR analyses of the polymers suggest a bimetallic mechanism for the polyme...

Biomass - that is a new feather in your cap: palm shell powder was used as support for novel uranyl complexed cucurbit[5]uril oligomer to obtain a selective extractant for uranium. The key to the selectivity lies in the perfect environment of the two portals of cucurbit[5]uril for uranyl ion binding.

Geoactive soil fungi were investigated for phosphatase-mediated uranium precipitation during growth on an organic phosphorus source. Aspergillus niger and Paecilomyces javanicus were grown on modified Czapek-Dox medium amended with glycerol 2-phosphate (G2P) as sole P source and uranium nitrate. Both organisms showed reduced growth on uranium-containing media but were able to extensively precip...

Using a scalar relativistic all-electron density functional method, we studied uranium(VI) complexation with benzoic acid and its derivatives in aqueous solution as models of uranyl humates. We explored monodentate, bidentate, and chelate coordination of various isomers of methyl and hydroxyl substituted benzoic acid ligands. Monodentate complexes were determined to be energetically preferred a...

Depleted uranium (DU) is an extremely dense metal that is used in radiation shielding, counterbalances, armor, and ammunition. In light of the public concerns about exposure to DU and its potential role in Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), this study evaluated the neurotoxic potential of DU using focused studies on primary rat cortical neurons and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We examined cell vi...

The reaction of benzoic acid with the uranyl(V) complex [(UO(2)Py(5))(KI(2)Py(2))] in pyridine leads to immediate disproportionation with formation of a hexanuclear U(IV) benzoate cluster, a bis-benzoate complex of uranyl(VI) and water.