Uranium compounds uranyl acetate

Electron microscopy and X-ray microanalytical methods showed that uranium as uranyl nitrate hexahydrate penetrated the stratum corneum within 15 minutes and accumulated in the intracellular space between the viable epidermis and the stratum corneum (De Rey et al. 1983). As is the case with inhalation and oral absorption, water solubility is an important determinant of absorption, and no penetration was observed with the insoluble compounds uranium dioxide, uranyl acetate, or ammonium diuranate. After 48 hours, uranium applied as uranyl nitrate was no longer found in the skin and toxicity developed, indicating that the uranium had been absorbed into the blood. 

Uranium compounds include acetates, carbonates, halides, nitrates, oxalates, oxides, phosphates, and sulfates. In broad terms uranyl (hexavalent, VI) compounds, which exist primarily as the U02 complex ion, tend to be the most soluble. The uranous (tetravalent, IV) compounds, such as UF4, are less soluble. Uranium oxides are the least soluble [3]. 

In a much earlier patent, the removal of organics from exhaust gases by oxidation over a supported uranium oxide catalyst was reported by Hofer and Anderson [39]. The catalyst was 4% U3O8 supported on alumina spheres. The authors used the incipient wetness technique to impregnate alumina with uranyl nitrate solution. In this case the catalyst precursors were calcined at 700°C for 3 h to decompose the uranium salt. The use of other uranium compounds as starting materials was mentioned and these included uranyl acetate, uranium ammonium carbonate and uranyl chloride. The alumina-supported catalyst had a surface area of ca 400m g and further added components, such as copper, chromium and iron, were highlighted as efficient additives to increase activity. 

Uranium(IV) oxalate has been prepared by the reaction of uranium(IV) chloride,sulfate, and hydroxide with a saturated solution of oxalic acid, or by the reduction of a water-soluble uranyl compound with copper, zinc, or sodium dithionite (Na2S204), followed by treatment with oxalic acid. It is prepared conveniently by the reduction of the readily available uranyl acetate 2-hydrate with sodium dithionite. 

Strong oxidizing acids, like nitric acid, produce stable hexavalent nranyl ions that can be extracted by suitable complex forming agents like tribntylphosphate (TBP). Uranyl compounds are generally very soluble in aqueous solutions and concentrations of several hundred grams of uranium per liter are quite common, like uranyl nitrate with solubility of 660 g L . Uranyl acetate, uranyl sulfate, uranyl chloride, and uranyl phosphate are all yellow salts and usually appear as hydrates. Uranyl fluoride, the product of hydrolysis of UFg, was discussed earlier. 

Uranyl solutions are easily prepared by dissolution of water-soluble salts the nitrate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, and acetate. Other water-soluble uranyl salts Include those of other organic acids the formate, propionate, butyrate, emd valerate and certain double salts such as potassliun uranyl sulfate, sodium uranyl carbonate, sodium uranyl chromate, etc. Uranyl solutions may be prepared also by dissolution of a uranium(VI) compound in an appropriate solvent, by dissolution of a lower valence uranium compound in an oxidizing medium, or by oxidation of lower valence uranium ions already in solution. Uranyl solutions are yellow in color. They are the most stable of uranlvim solutions. As indicated in preceding paragraphs, the... 

The frequent occurrence of vanadium in uranium minerals renders the separation of these two metals of importance. One method in use is based on the solubility of uranyl nitrate in ether, %vhilst vanadic and also molybdic and tungstic acids are insoluble. A solution containing these substances may therefore be evaporated to drjmess, and the uranyl salt extracted from the residue with ether. Another method depends upon the fact that uranyl nitrate is readily soluble, whilst vanadium compounds are insoluble, in acetic acid of 95 per cent, strength to which nitric acid has been added in the proportion 1 20. ... 

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