A new hydrometallurgical process for extracting rare earths from apatite using solvent extraction with P-350

In this paper, a new process is proposed to recover rare earths from nitric acid leaching of apatite without interfering with the normal route for fertilizer production using solvent extraction with dimethyl heptyl methyl phosphonate CH3P(O)(OC8H17)(2) (P-350, B). In the present work, the leaching conditions are studied. In selected condition, apatite was dissolved in 20% (v/v) nitric acid solution at 60-70 degrees C while agitating. The most suitable acidity for extraction is 0.4 M HNO3. More than 98% of rare earths in apatite can be recovered using countercurrent extraction process with six stages when phase ratio = 0.5, and defluorination is unnecessary. The influences of phase ratio, stage number, acidity and salting-out agent on extractabilities Of P-350 are studied. The results show that rare earths can be separated with P-350 from Ca, P, Fe and other impurities. Mixed rare earth oxides (REO) of which purity is more than 95% with yield over 98% can be obtained.

A two-dimensional molybdenum (V) phosphate with covalently bonded transition metal coordination complexes: hydrothermal synthesis and structure characterization of Na-2[{Mn(phen)(2)(H2O)}{Mn(phen)(2)}(3){Mn (Mo12O24)-O-V (HPO4)(6)(PO4)(2)(OH)(6)}] center dot 4H(2)O (phen=1,10-phenanthroline)

An organic-inorganic hybrid molybdenum phosphate, Na-2[{Mn(phen)(2)(H2O)} {Mn(phen)(2)}(3){(MnMo12O24)-O-v (HPO4)(6)(PO4)(2) (OH)(6)}] . 4H(2)O (phen=1,10-phenanthroline), involving molybdenum present in V oxidation state and covalently bonded transition metal coordination complexes, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Deep brown-red crystals are formed in the triclinic system, space group P (1) over bar, a=16.581(l)Angstrom, b=18.354(1)Angstrom, c=24.485(2)Angstrom, alpha=80.589(l)degrees, beta=71.279(1)degrees, gamma=67.084(1)degrees, V=6493.8(8)Angstrom(3), Z=2, lambda(MoKalpha)=0.71073Angstrom (R(F)=0.0686 for 29,053 reflections). Data were collected on a Bruker Smart Apex CCD diffractometer at 293 K in the range of 1.76 < theta < 28.06degrees using omega-2theta scans technique. The structure of the title compound may be considered to be based on {Mo6O12(HPO4)(3)(PO4)(OH)(3)} units bonded together with {Mn(phen)(2)} subunits into a two-dimensional network. Two types of tunnels are observed in the solid of the title compound.

Heptairon bis(phosphate) tetrakis(hydrogenphosphate)

A new iron hydrogen phosphate, heptairon bis(phosphate) tetrakis(hydrogenphosphate), Fe-7(PO4)(2)(HPO4)(4), has been prepared hydrothermally and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound has one Fe atom on an inversion centre and is isostructural with Mn-7(PO4)(2)(HPO4)(4) and Co-7(PO4)(2)(HPO4)(4). The structure is based on a framework of edge- and corner-sharing FeO6, Fe-5 and PO4 polyhedra, isotypic with that found in the mixed-valence iron phosphate Fe-7(PO4)(6). The Fe atoms in the title compound are purely in the divalent state, just like the Co atoms in Co-7(PO4)(2)(HPO4)(4), the necessary charge balance being maintained by the addition of H atoms in the form of bridging Fe-OH-P groups.

Sol-gel derived carbon ceramic electrode containing methylene blue-intercalted alpha-zirconium phosphate micro particles

Methylene blue-intercalated a-zirconium phosphate (MBZrP) micro particles in deionized water were deposited onto the surface of graphite powder to prepare graphite powder-supported MBZrP, which was subsequently dispersed into methyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to yield a conductive composite. The composite was used as electrode material to fabricate a surface-renewable, rigid, leak-free carbon ceramic composite electrode, bulk-modified with methylene blue (MB). In the configuration, alpha-zirconium phosphate was employed as a solid host for MB, which acted as a catalyst. Graphite powder ensured conductivity by percolation, the silicate provided a rigid porous backbone and the methyl groups endowed hydrophobicity and thus limited the wetting section of the modified electrode. Peak currents of the MBZrP-modified electrode were surface-confined at low scan rates but diffusion-controlled at high scan rates. Square-wave voltammetric study revealed that MBZrP immobilized in carbon ceramic matrix presented a two-electron, three-proton redox process in acidic aqueous solution with pH ranged from 0.44 to 2.94. In addition, the chemically modified electrode showed an electrocatalytic activity toward nitrite reduction at +0.15 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in acidic aqueous solution (pH=0.44). The linear range and detection limit are 1 x 10(-6)-4 x 10(-3) mol L-1 and 1.5 x 10(-7) mol L-1, respectively.

Carbon ceramic electrodes modified with sub-micron particles of new methylene blue (NMB) intercalated alpha-zirconium phosphate

New methylene blue-intercalated a-zirconium phosphate (NMBZrP) was synthesized in the presence of n-butylamine and characterized by powder XRD, FTIR, TEM and elemental analysis. Sub-micron particles of NMBZrP in deionized water were apt to deposit onto the surface of graphite powder to yield graphite powder-supported NMBZrP, which was subsequently dispersed into methyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to fabricate surface-renewable, stable, rigid carbon ceramic electrodes containing new methylene blue. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that peak currents of the NMBZrP-modified electrode were surface-confined at low scan rates but diffusion-controlled. at high scan rates. In addition, NMBZrP immobilized in a carbon ceramic matrix presented a two-electron, three-proton redox process in acidic aqueous solution in the pH range from 0.52 to 3.95.

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship of the opioid antagonist with potent anorectant activity of 3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl) piperidine

A series of 3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl) piperidine opioid antagonists with varying substituents on the nitrogen were evaluated for their effect on food consumption in obese Zucker rats. In developing three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies for this series of opioid antagonists, different structure alignments have been tested to predict the anorectant activities. The interaction energies between molecules and the probe atom were then correlated with anorectant activity using partial least squares (PLS) method. The steric and electrostatic features of the 3D-QSAR were presented in the form of standard deviation coefficient contour maps of steric and electrostatic fields. The results showed that 3D-QSAR results are much better than the results obtained by 2D-QSAR.

X-ray crystal structure and molecular mechanics calculations of (2,6-iso-dipropyl-phenylamide) dimethyl (tetra-methylcyclopenta-dienyl) silane titanium dichloride

Crystal and molecular structure of (2.6-dipropylphenylamide) dimethyl (tetra-methyl cyclopentadienyl) silane titanium dichloride (I) was fully characterized by X-ray diffraction. The crystal is obtained from a mixture of ether/hexane as orthorhombic. with a = 12.658 (3) Angstrom. b = 16.62 (3) Angstrom. c = 11.760 (2) Angstrom. V = 2474.2 (9) Angstrom(3). Z = 4, space group Pnma. R = 0.0399; Componud I compose of the pi-bounded ring with its dimethylsilyl-dipropyl phenyl amido group and the two terminal chloride atoms coordinated to central metal to form a so-called constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) structure. The result of molecular mechanics (MM) calculations on compound I shows that bond lengths and bond angles from the MM calculation are comparable to the data obtained from the X-ray diffraction study. The relation of the structure of CGCs and their catalytic activity by MM calculations is also discussed.