Hydrocarbon uranium oxides

Thus, historically, uranium oxides have been used as catalysts, and more often they have been used as catalyst components in combination with other metal oxides. Often it is difficult to identify the catalysts unambiguously there is little characterization data in the studies, and it is most likely that the specific stoichiometries of uranium oxides quoted as catalysts are not correct. There are many other examples of the use of uranium oxides for heterogeneous catalysis and the few examples presented in this section are typical of some of the earliest uses. It is interesting to note that, although some of the work highlighted was carried out over 80 years ago, some of the aims, such as selective hydrocarbon oxidation, are still major research aims for heterogeneous catalysis today. 

URANIUM HYDRIDE or URANIUM(III) HYDRIDE (13598-56-6) Finely divided ma terial is pyrophoric and thermally sensitive forms explosive mixture with air. Dust or powder reacts with water, acids, forming heat and emitting flammable hydrogen spontaneous ignition can result. Reacts violently with halocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbons, strong oxidizers. 

CoF is used for the replacement of hydrogen with fluorine in halocarbons (5) for fluorination of xylylalkanes, used in vapor-phase soldering fluxes (6) formation of dibutyl decalins (7) fluorination of alkynes (8) synthesis of unsaturated or partially fluorinated compounds (9—11) and conversion of aromatic compounds to perfluorocycHc compounds (see Fluorine compounds, organic). CoF rarely causes polymerization of hydrocarbons. CoF is also used for the conversion of metal oxides to higher valency metal fluorides, eg, in the assay of uranium ore (12). It is also used in the manufacture of nitrogen fluoride, NF, from ammonia (13). 

PoUowing further development (38), a two-cycle process has been adopted by industry. In the first concentration cycle, the clarified feed acid containing 100—200 mg/L U Og [1334-59-8] is oxidized, for example, with hydrogen peroxide or sodium chlorate [7775-09-9] to ensure that uranium is in its 6+ valence state is not extracted. Uranium is extracted with a solvent composed of 0.5 Af D2EHPA and 0.125 Af TOPO dissolved in an aUphatic hydrocarbon diluent. 

Uranium hexafluoride [7783-81-5], UF, is an extremely corrosive, colorless, crystalline soHd, which sublimes with ease at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The complex can be obtained by multiple routes, ie, fluorination of UF [10049-14-6] with F2, oxidation of UF with O2, or fluorination of UO [1344-58-7] by F2. The hexafluoride is monomeric in nature having an octahedral geometry. UF is soluble in H2O, CCl and other chlorinated hydrocarbons, is insoluble in CS2, and decomposes in alcohols and ethers. The importance of UF in isotopic enrichment and the subsequent apphcations of uranium metal cannot be overstated. The U.S. government has approximately 500,000 t of UF stockpiled for enrichment or quick conversion into nuclear weapons had the need arisen (57). With the change in pohtical tides and the downsizing of the nation s nuclear arsenal, debates over releasing the stockpiles for use in the production of fuel for civiUan nuclear reactors continue. 

Unsaturated, hydrocarbons, 342 Uranium compounds, 223 electron configuration, 415 oxidation number, 414 preparation, 35 Uranium hexafluoride, 35 Uranus, data on, 444 Urea, 434... 

Nitrosyl perchlorate Organic materials Perchloric acid Alcohols Permanganic acid Organic materials Peroxodisulfuric acid Organic liquids Potassium dioxide Ethanol Potassium perchlorate Ethanol Potassium permanganate Ethanol, etc. Ruthenium(VIII) oxide Organic materials Silver perchlorate Aromatic compounds Sodium peroxide Hydroxy compounds Uranium hexafluoride Aromatic hydrocarbons, etc. Uranyl perchlorate Ethanol See v-halomides Alcohols... 

The Purex process is used for almost all fuel reprocessing today. Irradiated UO2 fuel is dissolved in HNO3 with the uranium being oxidized to U02(N03)2 and the plutonium oxidized to Pu(NC>3)4. A solution of TBP in a high-boiling hydrocarbon, such as n-dodecane, is used to selectively extract the hexavalent U02(N03)2 and the tetravalent Pu(NC>3)4 from the other actinides and fission products in the aqueous phase. The overall reactions are... 

Hexavalent. Uranium hexafluoride, UFe, is one of the best-studied uranium compounds in existence due to its importance for uranium isotope separation and large-scale production ( 70 000 tons per year). All of the actinide hexafluorides are extremely corrosive white (U), orange (Np), or dark brown (Pu) crystalline solids, which sublime with ease at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The synthetic routes into the hexafluorides are given in equation (13). The volatility of the hexafluorides increases in the order Pu < Np < U in the liquid state and Pu < U < Np in the solid state. UFe is soluble in H2O, CCI4, and other chlorinated hydrocarbons, is insoluble in CS2, and decomposes in alcohols and ethers. The oxidative power of the actinide hexafluorides are in line with the transition metal hexafluorides and the order of reactivity is as follows PuFg > NpFg > UFg > MoFe > WFe. The UFe molecule can also react with metal fluorides to form UF7 and UFg. The same reactivity is not observed for the Np and Pu analogs. 

An oxidant. Combusdble when exposed to heat and flame. Moderate explosion hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Explosive reacdon with solid or concentrated alkali + heat (e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide), aluminum chloride + phenol (at 120°C), aniline + glycerol + sulfuric acid, nitric + sulfuric acid + heat. Forms explosive mixmres with aluminum chloride, oxidants (e.g., fluorodinitromethane, uranium perchlorate, tetranitromethane, sodium chlorate, nitric acid, nitric acid + water, peroxodisulfuric acid, dinitrogen tetraoxide), phosphorus pentachloride, potassium, sulfuric acid. Reacts violendy with aniline + glycerin, N2O, AgC104. To fight fire, use water, foam, CO2, dry chemical. Incompadble with potassium hydroxide. When heated to decomposidon it emits toxic flames of NOx. See also NITRO COMPOUNDS OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS. 

Chlorotris(//-cyclopentadienyl)uranium(IV) is an oxygen-sensitive brown solid. It can be handled in air for brief periods of time with minimal oxidation, which is evidenced by darkening of the color. The compound is soluble in ethereal and aromatic solvents but only sparingly soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons. Solutions are exceedingly air-sensitive. The nmr spectrum in benzene exhibits a sharp singlet 9.6 ppm to high field of the solvent (r 12.4). The infrared spectrum (Nujol mull) exhibits typical 7t-cyclopentadienyl bands at 1013 (m) and 784 (s) cm i. Oxidation is evidenced by the appearance of the antisymmetric v(OUO) stretch of the uranyl group at 930 cm-i. 

The two most important sources of uranium are the minerals carnotite, where uranium occurs in the hexavalent oxide or hydrated oxide, and pitchblende, where uranium occurs mostly in the tetravalent state as a compound salt with other metals. It also occurs as a mixed oxide with titanium, thorium, and niobium in the tetravalent form. The tetravalent uranium minerals appear to have been geologically formed in the presence of reducing agents such as hydrocarbon minerals, graphite, native metals, and sulfide minerals, while such association is rarely observed with the hexavalent uranium minerals. 

Separation by solvent extraction Uranium can be extracted from aqueous solutions using extraction agents into the solvent phase, from which it can be stripped. The extraction agents used are phosphorus compounds such as di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphate, tri-n-butyl-phosphate and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide as well as primary, secondary and tertiary amines in salt form or as quaternary ammonium salts. The extraction agents are diluted with inert hydrocarbons, preferably kerosene, to concentrations of 4 to 10% by volume. The solubility of the amine salts, particularly the hydrogen sulfates, chlorides and nitrates is increased by adding long chain alcohols (e.g. isodecanol). 

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