Uranyl nitrate organic addition compounds

These can be converted to their uranyl nitrate addition compounds. The crude or partially purified ester is saturated with uranyl nitrate solution and the adduct filtered off. It is recrystallised from -hexane, toluene or ethanol. For the more soluble members crystallisation from hexane using low temperatures (-40°) has been successful. The adduct is decomposed by shaking with sodium carbonate solution and water, the solvent is steam distilled (if hexane or toluene is used) and the ester is collected by filtration. Alternatively, after decomposition, the organic layer is separated, dried with CaCl or BaO, filtered, and fractionally distilled under high vacuum. 

In addition, the sequestration patterns of the different uranium compounds are important determinants for the target organ chemical and radiological toxicities of these compounds. The site of deposition for the soluble uranium compounds (uranyl nitrate, uranium tetrachloride, uranium hexafluoride) is the bone, while the insoluble compounds (uranium hexafluoride, uranium dioxide) accumulate in the lungs and lymph nodes (Stokinger 1953). 

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. 

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