Comment on “Measurements of the temperature dependent diffusion coefficient of nanoparticles in the range of 295–600 K at atmospheric pressure” by V.Y. Rudyak,S.N. Dubtsov,A.M. Baklanov

In a recent paper in this journal, Rudyak, Dubtsov, and Baklanov (2009) presented results of measurements of the penetration of nanoparticles with diameters from 3.5 to 84 nm at temperatures from ～300 to 600 K through a set of wire screens, from which they inferred diffusion coefficients. They argued that the formulation typically used for C, the Cunningham correction that accounts for non-continuum effects on the diffusion of nanoparticles, is not valid for temperatures greater than ～300 K, and they proposed a modification of this formulation which depends on both temperature and particle size. It is shown here that this modification produces unphysical results in that it yields negative values of the momentum accommodation coefficient. A likely reason for their results is that they used a polydisperse size distribution, for which the main contribution to the measured penetration would be from particles at sizes far from those attributed to them.     

Evaluation of the Hydrophilic Complexant N,N,N’,N’-tetraethyldiglycolamide (TEDGA) and its Methyl-substituted Analogues in the Selective Am(III) Separation

ABSTRACT

N,N,N’,N’-tetraethyldiglycolamide (TEDGA) is used in the French EXAm (extraction of americium) process to separate Am(III) from Cm(III) and Ln(III). In this study, the complexation behavior of TEDGA towards actinides(III) and lanthanides(III) was compared to its methyl-substituted derivatives Me-TEDGA and Me₂-TEDGA under experimental conditions applying to the EXAm process. Using the EXAm solvent, 0.6 mol/L N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dioctyl-hexylethoxymalonamide (DMDOHEMA) and 0.45 mol/L bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid (HDEHP), An(III) and Ln(III) distribution ratios increase in the order TEDGA < Me-TEDGA < Me₂-TEDGA. This is explained by differences in the strength of complexation in the aqueous phase: Conditional stability constants for the formation of [Cm(DGA)_x]³⁺ complexes decrease in the order TEDGA > Me-TEDGA > Me₂-TEDGA, as shown by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). TRLFS measurements verified the exclusive existence of [Cm(DGA)₃]³⁺ complexes in the aqueous phase. Both the homoleptic [Cm(DMDOHEMA)_n]³⁺ and the heteroleptic [Cm(DGA)_x(DMDOHEMA)_y]³⁺ complexes were detected in the organic phase, as postulated in the literature.^[14]     

Non-Dispersive Solvent Extraction of Neodymium using N,N,N’,N’-Tetraoctyl Diglycolamide (TODGA)

Hollow fiber contactor was used to study non-dispersive extraction (NDSX) of Nd³⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) diluted with n-dodecane was used as the organic phase with di-n-hexyl octanamide (DHOA) as the phase modifier. The role of cations (H⁺/Na⁺) on the transport of Nd³⁺ ions has been investigated for this system. It was observed that H⁺ ion has a significant role to play in the Nd³⁺/TODGA complexation reaction. A mathematical model has also been developed to simulate the NDSX process in a hollow fiber contactor. A comparison has also been made between extraction profiles from the NDSX process and the hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) process. It was observed that NDSX gave comparatively faster rates of extraction in the presence of H⁺ ions but slower in the absence of H⁺ ions.