University of California

Other

The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Energy

Kent D Abney

Scott A Kinkead

Rebecca L Miller

Anthony B Pinkerton

Anthony J Lupinetti

Caroline F Mason

Jiri Rais

Eduardo Garcia

Paul K Hurlburt

The synthesis of actinide tetraborides including uranium tetraboride (UB ), plutonium tetraboride (PuB ) and thorium tetraboride (ThB ) by a solid-state metathesis reaction are demonstrated. The present method significantly lowers the temperature required to &lE;850&deg; C. As an example, when UCl is reacted with an excess of MgB , at 850&deg; C., crystalline UB is formed. Powder X-ray diffraction and ICP-AES data support the reduction of UCl as the initial step in the reaction. The UB product is purified by washing water and drying.

Low-temperature synthesis of actinide tetraborides by solid-state metathesis reactions

Preparation and use of polymeric materials containing hydrophobic anions and plasticizers for extraction of cesium and strontium. The use of polymeric materials containing plasticizers which are solvents for hydrophobic anions such as derivatives of cobalt dicarbollide or tetraphenylborate which are capable of extracting cesium and strontium ions from aqueous solutions in contact with the polymeric materials, is described. The polymeric material may also include a synergistic agent for a given ion like polyethylene glycol or a crown ether, for removal of radioactive isotopes of cesium and strontium from solutions of diverse composition and, in particular, for solutions containing large excess of sodium nitrate.

Preparation and use of polymeric materials containing hydrophobic anions

A method for selectively adding chlorine, bromine, or iodine to cobalt dicarbollide anions by means of electrophilic substitution reactions. Halogens are added only to the B10 and B10' positions of the anion. The process involves use of hypohalous acid or N-halosuccinimide or gaseous chlorine in the presence of iron.

Halogenation of cobalt dicarbollide

Preparation and use of tetra-C-alkyl cobalt dicarbollide for extraction of cesium and strontium into hydrocarbon solvents. Tetra-C-alkyl derivatives of cobalt dicarbollide, Co(C.sub.2 R.sub.2 B.sub.9 H.sub.9).sub.2.sup.- (CoB.sub.2 R.sub.4.sup.- ; R=CH.sub.3 and C.sub.6 H.sub.13) are demonstrated to be significant cesium and strontium extractants from acidic and alkaline solutions into non-toxic organic solvent systems. Extractions using mesitylene and diethylbenzene are compared to those with nitrobenzene as the organic phase. CoB.sub.2 -hexyl.sub.4.sup.- in diethylbenzene shows improved selectivity (10.sup.4) for Cs over Na in acidic solution. In dilute alkaline solution, CoB.sub.2 -hexyl.sub.4.sup.- extracts Cs less efficiently, but more effectively removes Sr from higher base concentrations. A general synthesis of tetra-C-alkyl cobalt dicarbollides is described.

Preparation and use of tetra-alkyl cobalt dicarbollide for extraction of

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Los Alamos, NM, United States of America

Kent D Abney