Structural, mechanical, thermodynamic, and electronic properties of thorium hydrides from first-principles

We perform first-principles calculations of the structural, electronic, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of thorium hydrides (ThH2 and Th4H15) based on the density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The equilibrium geometries, the total and partial densities of states, charge density, elastic constants, elastic moduli, Poisson's ratio, and phonon dispersion curves for these materials are systematically investigated and analyzed in comparison with experiments and previous calculations. These results show that our calculated equilibrium structural parameters are well consistent with experiments. The Th-H bonds in all thorium hydrides exhibit weak covalent character, but the ionic properties for ThH2 and Th4H15 are different due to their different hydrogen concentration. It is found that while in ThH2 about 1.5 electrons transfer from each Th atom to H, in Th4H15 the charge transfer from each Th atom is around 2.1 electrons. Our calculated phonon spectrum for the stable body-centered tetragonal phase of ThH2 accords well with experiments. In addition we show that ThH2 in the fluorite phase is mechanically and dynamically unstable.

Effects of soil pH and organic matter on distribution of thorium fractions in soil contaminated by rare-earth industries

The labilities of thorium fractions including mobility and bioavailability vary significantly with soil properties. The effects of soil pH and soil organic matter on the distribution and transfer of thorium fractions defined by a sequential extraction procedure were investigated. Decrease of soil pH could enhance the phytoavailability and the potential availability of thorium in soil. Increase of organic matter reduced the phytoavailability of thorium, but enhanced the potential availability of it.

Reversed micellar solubilization extraction and separation of thorium(IV) from rare earth(III) by primary amine N1923 in ionic liquid

The extraction behavior of thorium(IV) sulfate by primary amine N1923 in imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) namely 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C(8)mim]PF6) was systematically studied in this paper. Results showed that the extraction behavior was quite different from that using conventional solvent as diluent. A reversed micellar solubilization extraction mechanism was proposed for the extraction of thorium(IV) by N1923/[C(8)mim]PF6 via slope analysis method and polarized optical microscopy (POM)/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. The salt-out agent, Na2SO4, was demonstrated to prompt this extraction mechanism.

The separation of Cerium(IV) from nitric acid solutions containing Thorium(IV) and Lanthanides(III) using pure [C(8)mim]PF6 as extracting phase

The extraction behavior of Ce(IV) along with Th(IV) and Ln(III) (Ln = Ce, Gd, Yb) nitrate by pure ionic liquid, [C(8)mim]PF6, was investigated. [C(8)mim]PF6 alone showed good extraction ability for Ce(IV), while it was slight for Th(IV) and negligible for Ln(III). The extraction behavior of Ce(IV) by [C(8)mim]PF6 was particularly studied, and the most probable extraction mechanism proposed was the anion exchange mechanism. Moreover, the stripping of Ce(IV) from IL phase was also investigated. The Ce(IV) in IL phase can be quantitatively recovered by water.

Extraction kinetics of thorium(IV) with primary amine N1923 in sulfate media using a constant interfacial cell with laminar flow

Extraction kinetics of thorium(IV) with primary amine N1923 in sulfate media has been investigated by a constant interfacial cell with laminar flow. Studies of interfacial tension and effects of the stirring rate, temperature, and specific interfacial area on mass transfer rate show that the most probable reaction zone takes place at the liquid-liquid interface. According to the experimental data correlated as a function of the concentration of the relevant species involved in the extraction reaction, the rate equation of extracting thorium has been obtained as follows: -d[Th(IV)]((o))/dt = 10(-3.10)center dot[Th(IV)](0.89)center dot[(RNH3)(2)SO4](0.74).

Adsorption Behavior of Exogenous Thorium on Soil Contaminated by Rare Earth Industries

The adsorption behavior of exogenous thorium on soil was studied to evaluate the contaminated risk on soil. The adsorption capacity, equilibrium time, distribution coefficient and desorption ability were investigated by the experiments of static adsorption. The strong adsorption ability of exogenous thorium on soil samples was observed by high adsorption ratio (> 92%) and low desorption ratio (< 5%) in equilibrium, and the biggest distribution coefficient was over 10(4). The adsorption capacity and equilibrium time were related to soil properties. According to the results of adsorption, Freundlich equation (r >= 0.916 7) and Elovich equation (R-2 >= 0. 898 0) were primely fit for describing the thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption of exogenous thorium on soil samples, respectively, which indicated that the adsorption was belonged to the nonlinear adsorption, and was affected by the diffusion of thorium on soil surface and in mineral interbed. Sequential extraction procedure was employed to evaluate the bound fractions of exogenous thorium adsorbed on soil samples.

Evaluation of a sequential extraction for the speciation of thorium in soils from Baotou area, Inner Mongolia

Sequential extraction procedures were widely applied for speciation of radioactive elements. In this study, the sequential extraction procedure developed by Martinez-Aguirre was employed for quantification of different chemical forms of thorium in the soil. The total amount of thorium in contaminated soil was much higher by four-fold than the local background value. The soil properties affect the amount of thoriurn and distribution of fractions in contaminated soil. Results showed that the proportion of thorium in soils from Baotou was found as the residual fraction (F5 + F6) > absorbed fraction (F3), coprecipitated fraction (F4) > carbonates fraction (172) and exchangeable fraction (F1) that could be available to plants. The recovery, calculated by ratio of the sum of the six fractions to the pseudo-total content of thorium, was in the range from 96% to 110%. A comparison was carried out between the sequential extraction and the single extraction to evaluate the selectivity of the extractants. It was found that the amount of thorium of absorbed fraction (H) was higher in the single extraction than that estimated in the sequential extraction, possibly duo to transform of the labile form. While for non-residual fraction analysis, the single extraction scheme was a desirable alternative to the sequential extraction procedure.

Interfacial behavior of primary amine N1923 and the kinetics of thorium(IV) extraction in sulfate media

The influences of additive, diluents, temperature, acidity of the aqueous phase on the interfacial behavior of primary amine N1923 in sulfate media have been investigated using the Du Nouy ring method. In addition, the effect of concentration of thorium(IV) loaded in the organic phase on the interfacial tension has also been studied. The interfacial tension isotherms are processed by matching different adsorption equations such as the Gibbs and the Szyszkowski. The surface excess at the saturated interface (Gamma (max)) and the minimum bulk concentration of the extractant necessary to saturate the interface (C-min) under different conditions are calculated according to two adsorption equations to be presented in comprehensive tables and figures. It appears that primary amine N1923 has strong interfacial activity and behaves very differently in various diluents systems. The surface excess at saturated interface increase with the type of diluerits in the following order: chloroform < aromatic hydrocarbons < aliphatic hydrocarbons. The relationship between the interfacial activity and kinetics of thorium extraction by primary amine N1923 has been discussed by considering different factors. However, the interfacial activity of primary amine N1923 is only a qualitative parameter suggesting the interfacial mechanism for thorium extraction, it cannot give strong evidence quantitatively supporting this mechanism.

Extraction and separation of cerium(IV) from nitric acid solutions containing thorium(IV) and rare earths(III) by DEHEHP

The extraction behaviour of Ce(IV), Th(IV) and part of RE(III), viz., La, Ce, Nd and Yb, has been investigated using di(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (DEHEHP,B) in heptane as an extractant. Results show that extractability varies in the order: Ce(IV) > Th(IV) much greater than RE(III). Therefore, it is possible to find the appropriate conditions under which Ce(IV) can be effectively separated from Th(IV) and RE(III). Furthermore, stripping Ce(IV) from the loaded organic phase can be carried out by dilute H2SO4 with an aliquot of H2O2.Roasted bastnasite made in Baotou (China) by Na2CO3 and leached by HNO3, there is about 50% Ce mainly as tetravalent nitrate along with other RE(III) and Th(IV) in the leachings. Through fractional extraction, taking nitric acid leachings of roasted Bastnasite as feed and DEHEHP as an extractant, we can obtain the CeO2 products with high purity of 99.9-99.99%, with a yield of >85%, in which ThO2/CeO2 < 10(-4).

Separation of thorium(IV) and extracting rare earths from sulfuric and phosphoric acid solutions by solvent extraction method

The bastnasite of Baotou (China) was roasted in concentrated sulfuric acid at 250-300 degreesC and the calcined products were leached by water. Almost all rare earths (RE) were moved into solutions in trivalent along with some radioactive impurity thorium(IV) (Th(IV))which accounts for 0.4% of RE and other impurities such as Fe(III), Ca, F, P, etc. Through fractional extraction (seven stages for extraction and nine for scrubbing), the mass ratio of Th(IV) and RE (ThO2/REO) in solution has decreased to 5 x 10(-6). The purity of ThO2 product recovered from organic phase is above 99%. The iron(III) in solutions can be removed in the form of precipitation by adding some magnesia into the solutions. Then RE can be concentrated by solvent extraction with 2-ethylhexyl phosphinic acid 2-ethylhexylester (P-507). The results of fractional extraction show that the concentration of total RE in aqueous solutions stripped by hydrochloric acid is over 200 g REO/I with the yield of RE above 99%. Individual RE can be attained by solvent extraction with P507 in the following process.

Extraction and separation of thorium and ytterbium with bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid using a hollow fiber membrane extractor

The based membrane extraction of Th4+ and Yb3+ was studied in HBTMPP-heptane using a hollow fibber membrane. The separation method of Th4+ and Yb3+ was proposed by kinetics competition. The separation operation of Th4+ and Yb3+ mixture was carried out by two successive extraction and stripping simultaneously. The concentration ratio of Th4+ to Yb3+ is 16.74 in the stripping solution. The recovery and purity of Th4+ are 71.6% and 95.74% respectively.

First-principles study of ground-state properties and high pressure behavior of ThO2

The mechanical properties, electronic structure and phonon dispersion of ground state ThO2 as well as the structure behavior up to 240 GPa are studied using first-principles density-functional theory. Our calculated elastic constants indicate that both the ground-state fluorite structure and high pressure cotunnite structure of ThO2 are mechanically stable. The bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Young's modulus of cotunnite ThO2 are all smaller by approximately 25% compared with those of fluorite ThO2. The Poisson's ratios of both structures are approximately equal to 0.3 and the hardness of fluorite ThO2 is 22.4 GPa. The electronic structure and bonding nature of fluorite ThO2 are fully analyzed, and show that the Th-O bond displays a mixed ionic/covalent character. The phase transition from the fluorite to cotunnite structure is calculated to occur at the pressure of 26.5 GPa, consistent with recent experimental measurement by ldiri et al. [1]. For the cotunnite phase it is further predicted that an isostructural transition takes place in the pressure region of 80-130 GPa.

杯芳烃羧酸萃取稀土、钍与含杯配合物结构研究

本文以大环化合物杯芳烃羧酸为萃取体系，系统考察稀土元素在该体系中的萃取分离性能，比较了钍与稀土元素的萃取性质差异，从而为杯芳烃羧酸在该分离领域中的应用提供一定的实验数据，此外，采用无机水热合成制备了含杯[8]芳烃的三元超分子配位聚合物并表征其结构，具体研究内容如下： 1、 合成杯芳烃并进行化学修饰得萃取剂杯芳烃羧酸，采用熔点测定、元素分析、TG-DTA、FT-IR和1H-NMR等分析方法表征，并利用两相滴定法测定了杯芳烃羧酸的基本常数。 2、 研究杯芳烃羧酸-CHCl3/RE-HCl萃取体系碱金属离子、离子强度、酸度、温度和萃取剂浓度对Eu(III)的萃取分配比影响，并分析其萃取机理。在此基础上，探索杯芳烃羧酸的协同萃取性能，发现杯[4]芳烃羧酸与伯胺N1923的ABC酸碱耦合协萃体系对轻、中、重稀土有不同的协萃能力，协萃系数与原子序数呈“双峰效应”。 3、 在萃取热力学基础上，利用层流恒界面池研究杯[4]芳烃羧酸萃取Nd(III)的动力学性质，确定了萃取反应控制模式随条件不同有所变化，化学反应在相界面上进行，并获得了萃取反应速率方程。 4、 以杯芳烃羧酸-CHCl3/Th-HCl体系研究钍的萃取性能，考察了碱金属离子、离子强度、酸度、温度和萃取剂浓度对Th(IV)的萃取影响，比较其与稀土萃取性能的差异，并在此基础上进一步研究与伯胺N1923协同萃取钍的性能，分析了协同萃取反应机制。 5、 水热合成并表征了含磺化杯[8]芳烃，2，2’-联吡啶与镍的三元超分子配合物。磺化杯[8]在该配合物中呈“双-反向锥式”构型，分子间由氢键和C-H…π相互作用将四核Ni簇连接成三维超分子结构。

包头稀土工业区土壤中钍的环境化学行为

本论文分为两部分：1. 综述部分（第一章和第二章），介绍了我国包头地区稀土工业区钍污染概况，对稀土工业生产造成的放射性生态环境污染进行了分析和归纳；评述了土壤和沉积物中放射性核素污染生态物理化学研究和进展；说明了本研究课题的背景、意义和技术路线。2. 实验部分（第三章至第六章），包括以下几方面内容：土壤样品和高铁矿渣样品中钍的分析方法的建立；对土壤和矿渣样品中钍的形态进行定量分析，考察了土壤性质对土壤中钍形态分布的影响；模拟自然环境，研究钍在土壤-植物系统之间的迁移积累和钍形态的植物可利用性；土壤样品对钍的吸附-解吸行为及其影响因素。 我国包头稀土工业在稀土矿浮选和稀土精矿湿法冶炼过程中产生了大量含放射性钍的废渣、废水和粉尘，对当地生态环境造成严重的破坏和放射性污染。 采用合适内标，ICP-MS法对样品中钍分析，考察了基体干扰、记忆效应和质谱干扰，比较了不同的样品消解方法对钍测定的影响，并用标准土壤样品和标准加入法对方法的准确性进行了评价。分别采用Tessier、BCR和Martínez-Aguirre形态萃取方法对土壤和样品中钍的形态进行分析，通过对总量的回收率和萃取剂选择性比较，选择了Martínez-Aguirre连续萃取法定量样品中钍的形态，并对其进行了优化和评价。考察了土壤性质影响着钍的形态分布。 通过盆栽实验，考察了小麦对根际土壤中钍形态分布以及的在不同生长期对钍的吸收影响。利用相应的材料人工模拟了土壤中钍的形态，对模拟的钍各形态的植物可利用性和植物吸收贡献指数进行评估分析。利用不同的磷酸盐对土壤进行培养处理，考察了磷酸盐的加入对土壤中钍的生物可利用性影响。 实验了土壤样品对钍的吸附-解吸过程，通过吸附容量、分配系数和吸附百分比等参数考察土壤对钍吸附能力，并考察了被土壤吸附钍的解吸行为。通过吸附机理的分析，土壤对钍的吸附作用主要是通过Th(IV)的表面水解吸附模式进行。根据实验结果，土壤样品对溶液中钍的吸附热力学可以用Freundlich方程式来描述，吸附的动力学过程可用Elovich方程描述，并对吸附方式和吸附过程进行论述。实验发现，吸附-解吸条件、土壤性质、外源稀土元素和施肥等对土壤吸附钍有一定影响。