RFSS: Lecture 15 Americium and Curium Chemistry • Readings: Am and Cm chemistry chapters Nuclear properties Production of isotopes Separation and purification Metallic state
Download ReportTranscript RFSS: Lecture 15 Americium and Curium Chemistry • Readings: Am and Cm chemistry chapters Nuclear properties Production of isotopes Separation and purification Metallic state
RFSS: Lecture 15 Americium and Curium Chemistry • Readings: Am and Cm chemistry chapters Nuclear properties Production of isotopes Separation and purification Metallic state Compounds Solution chemistry Coordination chemistry 15-1 Production of Am isotopes • • • • • Am produced in reactors from neutron irradiation of Pu 239Pu to 240Pu to 241Pu, then beta decay of 241Pu 241,243Am main isotopes of interest Long half-lives Produced in kilogram quantity Chemical studies Both isotopes produced in reactor 241Am source for low energy gamma and alpha Alpha energy 5.44 MeV and 5.49 MeV Smoke detectors Neutron sources (a,n) on Be Thickness gauging and density 242Cm production from thermal neutron capture 243Am Irradiation of 242Pu, beta decay of 243Pu Critical mass 242Am in solution 23 g at 5 g/L Requires isotopic separation 15-2 Am solution chemistry • • • • Oxidation states III-VI in solution Am(III,V) stable in dilute acid Am(V, VI) form dioxo cations Am(II) Unstable, unlike some lanthanides (Yb, Eu, Sm) Formed from pulse radiolysis * Absorbance at 313 nm * T1/2 of oxidation state 5E-6 seconds Am(III) Easy to prepare (metal dissolved in acid, AmO2 dissolution) Pink in mineral acids, yellow in HClO4 when Am is 0.1 M 7 5 F0 L6 at 503.2 nm (e=410 L mol cm-1) Shifts in band position and molar absorbance indicates changes in water or ligand coordination 9 to 11 inner sphere waters Based on fluorescence spectroscopy * Lifetime related to coordination nH2O=(x/t)-y x=2.56E-7 s, y=1.43 Measurement of fluorescence lifetime in H2O and D2O Am(IV) Requires complexation to stabilize dissolving Am(OH)4 in NH4F Phosphoric or pyrophosphate (P2O74-) solution with anodic oxidation Ag3PO4 and (NH4)4S2O8 Carbonate solution with electrolytic oxidation 15-3 Am solution chemistry • • • • Am(V) Oxidation of Am(III) in near neutral solution Ozone, hypochlorate (ClO-), peroxydisulfate Reduction of Am(VI) with bromide 5 I43G5; 513.7 nm; 45 L mol cm-1 5I 3I ; 716.7 nm; 60 L mol cm-1 4 7 Am(VI) Oxidation of Am(III) with S2O82- or Ag2+ in dilute non-reducing acid (i.e., sulfuric) Ce(IV) oxidizes IV to VI, but not III to VI completely 2 M carbonate and ozone or oxidation at 1.3 V 996 nm; 100 L mol cm-1 Smaller absorbance at 666 nm Am(VII) 3-4 M NaOH, mM Am(VI) near 0 °C Gamma2-irradiation 3 M NaOH with N2O or S2O8 saturated solution Am(VII) Broad absorbance at 740 nm 15-4 Am solution chemistry • Am(III) luminescence 7F 5L at 503 nm 0 6 Then conversion to other excited state Emission to 7FJ 5D 7F at 685 nm 1 1 5 7 D1 F2 at 836 nm Lifetime for aquo ion is 20 ns 155 ns in D2O Emission and lifetime changes with speciation Am triscarbonate lifetime = 34.5 ns, emission at 693 nm • • • • • Autoreduction Formation of H2O2 and HO2 radicals from radiation reduces Am to trivalent states Difference between 241Am and 243Am Rate decreases with increase acid for perchloric and sulfuric Some disagreement role of Am concentration Concentration of Am total or oxidation state Rates of reduction dependent upon Acid, acid concentration, mechanism Am(VI) to Am(III) can go stepwise starting ion Am(V) slower than Am(VI) 15-5 Am solution chemistry • • Disproportionation Am(IV) In nitric and perchloric acid Second order with Am(IV) * 2 Am(IV)Am(III) + Am(V) * Am(IV) + Am(V)Am(III) + Am(VI) Am(VI) increases with sulfate Am(V) 3-8 M HClO4 and HCl * 3 Am(V) +4 H+Am(III)+2Am(VI)+2 H2O Solution can impact oxidation state stability Redox kinetics Am(III) oxidation by peroxydisulfate Oxidation due to thermal decomposition products * SO4.-, HS2O8 Oxidation to Am(VI) Acid above 0.3 M limits oxidation * Decomposition of S2O82 Induction period followed by reduction Rates dependent upon temperature, [HNO3], [S2O82-], and [Ag+2] In carbonate proceeds through Am(V) * Rate to Am(V) is proportional to oxidant * Am(V) to Am(VI) Proportional to total Am and oxidant Inversely proportional to K2CO3 15-6 Am solution chemistry: Redox kinetics • Am(VI) reduction H2O2 in perchlorate is 1st order for peroxide and Am 2 AmO22++H2O22 AmO2+ + 2 H++ O2 NpO2+ 1st order with Am(VI) and Np(V) * k=2.45E4 L / mol s Oxalic acid reduces to equal molar Am(III) and Am(V) • Am(V) reduction Reduced to Am(III) in NaOH solutions Slow reduction with dithionite (Na2S2O4), sulfite (SO32-), or thiourea dioxide ((NH2)2CSO2) Np(IV) and Np(V) In both acidic and carbonate conditions * For Np(IV) reaction products either Np(V) or Np(VI) Depends upon initial relative concentration of Am and Np U(IV) examined in carbonate 15-7 Am solution chemistry • • Radiolysis From alpha decay 1 mg 241Am release 7E14 eV/s Reduction of higher valent Am related to dose and electrolyte concentration In nitric acid formation of HNO2 In perchlorate numerous species produced Cl2, ClO2, or ClComplexation chemistry Primarily for Am(III) F->H2PO4->SCN->NO3->Cl>ClO4 Hard acid reactions Electrostatic interactions * Inner sphere and outer sphere Outer sphere for weaker ligands Stabilities similar to trivalent lanthanides Some enhanced stability due to participation of 5f electron in bonding 15-8 Am solution chemistry • • Hydrolysis Mono-, di-, and trihydroxide species Am(V) appears to have 2 species, mono- and dihydroxide Am hydrolysis (from CHESS database) Am3++H2OAmOH2++H+: log K =-6.402 Am+3++2H2OAm(OH)2++ 2H : log K =-14.11 3++3H OAm(OH) +3 Am 3 + H : log K2 =-25.72 Carbonate Evaluated by spectroscopy Includes mixed species Am hydroxide carbonate species Based on solid phase analysis Am(IV) Pentacarbonate studied (log b=39.3) Am(V) solubility examined 1mM Am3+; 1 mM Am, 1 mM carbonate 15-9 Am solution chemistry: Organics • Number of complexes examined Mainly for Am(III) • Generally stability of complex increases with coordination sites • With aminopolycarboxylic acids, complexation constant increases with ligand coordination • Natural organic acid Number of measurements conducted Measured by spectroscopy and ion exchange • TPEN (N,N,N’,N’-tetrakis(2pyridylmethyl)ethyleneamine) 0.1 M NaClO4, complexation constant for Am 2 orders greater than Sm 15-10 Am solvent extraction • • • Tributylphosphate (TBP) Am extracted from neutral or low acid solutions with high nitrate Am(VI) Oxidation with (NH4)10P2W17O61 to stabilize Am(VI) 100 % TBP from 1 M HNO3 * Separation factor 50 from Nd Am separation from lanthanides 1 M ammonium thiocyanate aqueous phase Dibutyl butylphosphonate (DBBP) Phosphonate functional group Similar to TBP, stronger extractant of Am Trialkylphophine oxide (TRPO) Increase in basicity of P=O functional group from TBP to DPPB to TRPO Am and Cm extraction from 1-2 M HNO3 30 % TRPO in kerosene Am, Cm, tetravalent Np and Pu, hexavalent U extracted * Actinides stripped with 5.5 M HNO3 (Am fraction) TRPO with C6-C8 alkyl group 15-11 Am solvent extraction • • Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) Has been used to Am separation Part of TALSPEAK Extracts lanthanides stronger that actinides TALSPEAK components HDEHP * Bis(2-ethyl-hexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) * HNO3 * DTPA * Lactic acid Carbamoylphosphine oxide (CMPO) Synthesized by Horwitz Based on DHDECMP extractions * Recognized functional group, simplified ligand synthesis * Purified by cation exchange Part of TRUEX TRUEX (fission products) * 0.01 to 7 M HNO3 * 1.4 M TBP * 0.2 M Diphenyl-N,N-dibutylcarbamoyl phosphine oxide (CMPO) * 0.5 M Oxalic acid * 1.5 M Lactic acid * 0.05 M DTPA 15-12 CMPO Am solvent extraction • Tertiary amine salt Low acid, high nitrate or chloride solution (R3NH)2Am(NO3)5 • Quaternary ammonium salts (Aliquat 336) Low acid, high salt solutions Extraction sequence of Cm<Cf<Am<Es Studies at ANL for process separation of Am • Amide extractants (R1,R2)N-C(O)-CR3H-C(O)-N(R1R2) Diamide extractant Basis of DIAMEX process N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dibutyl-2-tetradecyl-malonamide (DMDBTDMA) DIAMEX with ligand in dodecane with 3-4 M HNO3 * Selective extraction over Nd 15-13 • • • • Am/Ln solvent extraction Extraction reaction Am3++2(HA)2AmA3HA+3 H+ Release of protons upon complexation requires pH adjustment to achieve extraction * Maintain pH greater than 3 Cyanex 301 stable in acid HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 Below 2 M Irradiation produces acids and phosphorus compounds Problematic extractions when dosed 104 to 105 gray New dithiophosphinic acid less sensitive to acid concentration R2PSSH; R=C6H5, ClC6H4, FC6H4, CH3C6H4 Only synergistic extractions with, TBP, TOPO, or tributylphosphine oxide Aqueous phase 0.1-1 M HNO3 Increased radiation resistance Distribution ratios of Am(III ) and Ln(III ) in 1.0 M Cyanex 301‐heptane (16 mol% of Cyanex 301 neutralized before extraction contacts) 15-14 • • • • Ion exchange separation Am from Cm LiCl with ion exchange achieves separation from lanthanide Separation of tracer level Am and Cm has been performed with displacement complexing chromatography DTPA and nitrilotriacetic acid in presence of Cd and Zn as competing cations displacement complexing chromatography method is not suitable for large scale Ion exchange has been used to separate trace levels of Cm from Am Am, Cm, and lanthanides sorbed to a cation exchange resin at pH 2 Separation of Cm from Am was performed with 0.01 % ethylenediaminetetramethylphosphonic acid at pH 3.4 in 0.1 M NaNO3 separation factor of 1.4 Separation of gram scale quantities of Am and Cm by cation and anion exchange use of a-hydroxylisobutyrate or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid as an eluting agent or a variation of eluant composition by addition of methanol to nitric acid best separations were achieved under high pressure conditions * separation factors greater than 400 Distribution coefficients of actinides and lanthanides into Dowex 1 8 resin 15-15 from 10 M LiCl Extraction chromatography • Mobile liquid phase and stationary liquid phase Apply results from solvent extraction HDEHP, Aliquat 336, CMPO * Basis for Eichrom resins * Limited use for solutions with fluoride, oxalate, or phosphate DIPEX resin (Eichrom) * Bis-2-ethylhexylmethanediphosphonic acid on inert support * Lipophilic molecule Extraction of 3+, 4+, and 6+ actinides * Strongly binds metal ions Need to remove organics from support Variation of support Silica for covalent bonding Functional organics on coated ferromagnetic particles * Magnetic separation after sorption 15-16 Am separation and purification • Precipitation method Formation of insoluble Am species AmF3, K8Am2(SO4)7 , Am2(C2O4)3, K3AmO2(CO3)2 * Am(V) carbonate useful for separation from Cm * Am from lanthanides by oxalate precipitation Slow hydrolysis of dimethyloxalate Oxalate precipitate enriched in Am 50 % lanthanide rejection, 4 % Am Oxidation of Am(VI) by K2S2O8 and precipitation of Cm(III) • Pyrochemical process Am from Pu O2 in molten salt, PuO2 forms and precipitates Partitioning of Am between liquid Bi or Al and molten salts * Kd of 2 for Al system Separation of Am from PuF4 in salt by addition of OF2 * Formation of PuF6, volatility separation 15-17 Am metal and alloys • • • Preparation of Am metal Reduction of AmF3 with Ba or Li Reduction of AmO2 with La Bomb reduction of AmF3 with Ca Decomposition of Pt5Am 1550 °C at 10-6 torr La or Th reduction of AmO2 with distillation of Am Metal properties Ductile, non-magnetic Double hexagonal closed packed (dhcp) and fcc Evidence of three phase between room temperature and melting point at 1170 °C Alpha phase up to 658 °C Beta phase from 793 °C to 1004 °C Gamma above 1050 °C Some debate in literature Evidence of dhcp to fcc at 771 °C Interests in metal properties due to 5f electron behavior Delocalization under pressure Different crystal structures * Conversion of dhcp to fcc Discrepancies between different experiments and theory Alloys investigated with 23 different elements Phase diagrams available for Np, Pu, and U alloys 15-18 Am compounds: Oxides and Hydroxides • • • • • • AmO, Am2O3, AmO2 Non-stoichiometric phases between Am2O3 and AmO2 AmO lattice parameters varied in experiments 4.95 Å and 5.045 Å Difficulty in stabilizing divalent Am Am2O3 Prepared in H2 at 600 °C Oxidizes in air Phase transitions with temperature bcc to monoclinic between 460 °C and 650 °C Monoclinic to hexagonal between 800 °C and 900 °C AmO2 Heating Am hydroxides, carbonates, oxalates, or nitrates in air or O2 from 600 °C to 800 °C fcc lattice Expands due to radiation damage Higher oxidation states can be stabilized Cs2AmO4 and Ba3AmO6 Am hydroxide Isostructural with Nd hydroxides Crystalline Am(OH)3 can be formed, but becomes amorphous due to radiation damage Complete degradation in 5 months for 241Am hydroxide Am(OH)3+3H+,Am3++3H2O logK=15.2 for crystalline Log K=17.0 for amorphous 15-19 Am organic compounds • • From precipitation (oxalates) or solution evaporation Includes non-aqueous chemistry AmI3 with K2C8H8 in THF Yields KAm(C8H8)2 Am halides with molten Be(C5H5) forms Am(C5H5)3 Purified by fractional sublimation Characterized by IR and absorption spectra 15-20 Am coordination chemistry • • Little known about Am coordination chemistry 46 compounds examined XRD and compared to isostructural lanthanide compounds Structural differences due to presence of oxo groups in oxidized Am Halides Coordination numbers 7-9, 11 Coordination include water AmCl2(H2O)6+ * Outer sphere Cl may be present 15-21 Am coordination chemistry • Oxides Isostructural with Pu oxides AmO may not be correct Am(V)=O bond distance of 1.935 Å Am2O3 has distorted Oh symmetry with Am-O bond distances of 2.774 Å, 2.678 Å, and 1.984 15-22 Am coordination chemistry • • Cyclopentadienyl (CP) ligands Am(C5H5)3 Isostructural with Pu(III) species * Not pyrophoric Absorbance on films examined * Evaluated 2.8 % relative bond covalency * Indicates highly ionic bonding for species * Data used for calculations and discussion of 5f and 6d orbitals in interactions Bis-cyclooctatetraenyl Am(III) KAm(C8H8)2 In THF with 2 coordinating solvent ligands Decomposes in water, burns in air XRD shows compound to be isostructural with Pu and Np compounds From laser ablation mass spectra studies, examination of molecular products Differences observed when compared to Pu and Np compounds Am 5f electrons too inert to form sigma bonds with organic, do not participate 15-23 Curium: Nuclear properties • Isotopes from mass 237 to 251 • 242Cm, t1/2=163 d 122 W/g Grams of oxide glows Low flux of 241Am target decrease fission of 242Am, increase yield of 242Cm • 244Cm, t1/2=18.1 a 2.8 W/g • 248Cm, t1/2= 3.48E5 a 8.39% SF yield Limits quantities to 1020 mg Target for production of transactinide elements 15-24 Cm Production • From successive neutron capture of higher Pu isotopes 242Pu+n243Pu (b-, 4.95 h)243Am+n244Am (b-, 10.1 h)244Cm Favors production of 244,246,248Cm Isotopes above 244Cm to 247Cm are not isotopically pure Pure 248Cm available from alpha decay of 252Cf • Large campaign to product Cm from kilos of Pu • 244Cm separation Dissolve target in HNO3 and remove Pu by solvent extraction Am/Cm chlorides extracted with tertiary amines from 11 M LiCl in weak acid Back extracted into 7 M HCl Am oxidation and precipitation of Am(V) carbonate • Other methods for Cm purification included NaOH, HDEHP, and EDTA Discussed for Am 15-25 Cm aqueous chemistry • • • • • Trivalent Cm 242Cm at 1g/L will boil 9 coordinating H2O from fluorescence Decreases above 5 M HCl 7 waters at 11 M HCl In HNO3 steady decrease from 0 to 13 M 5 waters at 13 M Stronger complexation with NO3Inorganic complexes similar to data for Am Many constants determined by TRLFS Hydrolysis constants (Cm3++H2OCmOH2++H+) K11=1.2E-6 Evaluated under different ionic strength 15-26 Cm atomic and spectroscopic data • • • Cm(III) absorbance Weak absorption in near-violet region Solution absorbance shifted 20-30 Å compared to solid Reduction of intensity in solid due to high symmetry * f-f transitions are symmetry forbidden Spin-orbit coupling acts to reduce transition energies when compared to lanthanides Cm(IV) absorbance Prepared from dissolution of CmF4 CmF3 under strong fluorination conditions 5f7 has enhanced stability Half filled orbital Large oxidation potential for IIIIV Cm(IV) is metastable 15-27 Absorption and fluorescence process of Cm3+ Optical Spectra Fluorescence Process 30 Wavenumber (10 3 -1 cm ) H G F Emissionless Relaxation 20 A 7/2 Excitation 10 Fluorescence Emission 15-28 0 Z 7/2 Cm fluorescence • Fluoresce from 595-613 nm Attributed to 6D 8S 7/2 7/2 transition Energy dependent upon coordination environment Speciation Hydration complexation constants 15-29 Cm separation and purification: Similar to Am • • • Solvent extraction Organic phosphates Function of ligand structure * Mixed with 6 to 8 carbon chain better than TBP HDEHP From HNO3 and LiCl CMPO Oxidation state based removal with different stripping agent Extraction of Cm from carbonate and hydroxide solutions, need to keep metal ions in solution Organics with quaternary ammonium bases, primary amines, alkylpyrocatechols, b-diketones, phenols Ion exchange Anion exchange with HCl, LiCl, and HNO3 Includes aqueous/alcohol mixtures Formation of CmCl4- at 14 M LiCl * From fluorescence spectroscopy Precipitation Separation from higher valent Am 10 g/L solution in base Precipitation of K5AmO2(CO3)3 at 85 °C Precipitation of Cm with hydroxide, oxalate, or fluoride 15-30 Cm metallic state • • • Preparation of Cm metal CmF3 reduction with Ba or Li Dry, O2 free, and above 1600 K Reduction of CmO2 with Mg-Zn alloy in MgF2/MgCl2 Melting point 1345 °C Higher than lighter actinides Np-Am Similar to Gd (1312 °C) Two states Double hexagonal close-packed (dhcp) Neutron diffraction down to 5 K No structure change fcc at higher temperature • • • • XRD studies on 248Cm Magnetic susceptibility studies Antiferrimagnetic transition near 65 K 200 K for fcc phase Metal susceptible to corrosion due to self heating Formation of oxide on surface Alloys Cm-Pu phase diagram studied Noble metal compounds CmO2 and H2 heated to 1500 K in Pt, Ir, or Rh * Pt5Cm, Pt2Cm, Ir2Cm, Pd3Cm, Rh3Cm 15-31 Cm oxide compounds • Cm2O3 Thermal decomposition of CmO2 at 600 °C and 10-4 torr Mn2O3 type cubic lattice Transforms to hexagonal structure due to radiation damage Monoclinic at 800 °C • CmO2 Heating in air, thermal treatment of Cm loaded resin, heating Cm2O3 at 600 °C under O2, heating of Cm oxalate Shown to form in O2 as low as 400 °C Evidence of CmO1.95 at lower temperature fcc structure Magnetic data indicates paramagnetic moment attributed to Cm(III) Need to re-evaluate electronic ground state in oxides • Oxides Similar to oxides of Pu, Pr, and Tb Basis of phase diagram BaCmO3 and Cm2CuO4 Based on high T superconductors 15-32 Cm compounds do not conduct Cm compounds • • • • Cm(OH)3 From aqueous solution, crystallized by aging in water Same structure as La(OH)3; hexagonal Cm2(C2O4)3.10H2O From aqueous solution Stepwise dehydration when heated under He Anhydrous at 280 °C Converts to carbonate above 360 °C * TGA analysis showed release of water (starting at 145 °C) Converts to Cm2O3 around 500 °C Cm(NO3)3 Evaporation of Cm in nitric acid From TGA, decomposition same under O2 and He Dehydration up 180 °C, melting at 400 °C Final product CmO2 Oxidation of Cm during decomposition Organometallics Studies hampered by radiolytic properties of Cm Some compounds similar to Am Cm(C5H5)3 form CmCl3 and Be(C5H5)2 Weak covalency of compound Strong fluorescence 15-33 Review • Production and purification of Am and Cm isotopes Suitable reactions Basis of separations from other actinides • Formation of Am and Cm metallic state and properties Number of phases, melting points • Compounds Range of compounds, limitations on data • Solution chemistry Oxidation states • Coordination chemistry Organic chemistry reactions 15-34 Questions • What is the longest lived isotope of Am? • Which Am isotope has the highest neutron induced fission cross section? • What are 3 ligands used in the separation of Am? What are the solution conditions? • What column methods are useful for separating Am from the lanthanides? • Which compounds can be made by elemental reactions with Am? • What Am coordination compounds have been produced? • What is the absorbance spectra of Am for the different oxidation states? • How can Am be detected? 15-35 Questions • Which Cm isotopes are available for chemical studies? • Describe the fluorescence process for Cm What is a good excitation wavelength? • What methods can be use to separate Cm from Am? • How many states does Cm metal have? What is its melting point? • What are the binary oxides of Cm? Which will form upon heating in normal atmosphere? 15-36 Pop Quiz • How can high valent oxidation states of Am be made? • Why does Cm have fewer accessible oxidation states than Am? • Respond to lecture in blog • Provide pop quiz answers 15-37