Co-precipitation behaviour of single atoms of rutherfordium in basic solutions.

All superheavy elements (SHEs), with atomic numbers (Z) ≥104, have been artificially synthesized one atom at a time and their chemical properties are largely unknown. Because these heavy nuclei have short lifetimes as well as extremely low production rates, chemical experiments need to be carried out on single atoms and have mostly been limited to adsorption and extraction. We have now investigated the precipitation properties of the SHE Rf (Z = 104). A co-precipitation method with samarium hydroxide had previously established that the co-precipitation behaviour of a range of elements reflected these elements' tendency to form hydroxide precipitates and/or ammine complex ions. Here we investigated co-precipitation of Rf in basic solutions containing NH3 or NaOH. Comparisons between the behaviour of Rf with that of Zr and Hf (lighter homologues of Rf) and actinide Th (a pseudo-homologue of Rf) showed that Rf does not coordinate strongly with NH3, but forms a hydroxide (co)precipitate that is expected to be Rf(OH)4.

Experimental and theoretical study of anion-exchange preparative chromatography for neptunium: the first application to thorium(IV) and its equilibrium and kinetics.

In order to study equilibrium and kinetic parameters in anion-exchange chromatography for preparatory purpose, a quantitative model for nonlinear anion-exchange chromatography in porous media was constructed, by paying special attention to interstitial length along void structure (cm) distinguished from apparent length (cm*). Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm for thorium(IV), as a natural substitution for neptunium(IV), in 6 mol dm(-3) nitric acid to anion-exchanger MSA-1 (200-400 mesh) was investigated in batch-wise and chromatographic experiments. The equilibrium parameters determined by batch-wise experiments determined as k=2.4x10(2) mol(-1) dm3 s(-1) and s0=0.5 mol dm(-3) agrees very well with the values of k=222 mol(-1) dm3 s(-1) and s0=0.5 mol dm(-3) derived from fitting by the numerical calculation. Kinetic parameters of ks and D affect band profile similarly, thereby maximum value of each parameter was evaluated as ks=1.3 mol(-1) dm3 s(-1) and D=9x10(-4) cm2 s(-1) by the numerical calculations.

227Th-EDTMP: a potential therapeutic agent for bone metastasis.

The biodistribution of 227Th-EDTMP and retention of its daughter nuclide 223Ra were examined. 227Th-EDTMP was found to show high uptake and long-term retention in bone. The clearance of 227Th-EDTMP from blood and soft tissues was rapid and the femur-to-tissue uptake ratios reached more than 100 within 30 min for all tissues except the kidney. Seven and 14 days after injection of 227Th-EDTMP, the retention index of 223Ra in bone showed high values, and the differences between these time points were not significant. Therefore, 227Th-EDTMP is a potential radiotherapeutic agent for bone metastasis.

Effect of alcohols on elution chromatography of trivalent actinides and lanthanides using tertiary pyridine resin with hydrochloric acid-alcohol mixed solvents.

Elution chromatography with a tertiary pyridine resin has been used to separate the trivalent actinides (An3+) from the lanthanides (Ln3+) using an alcoholic hydrochloric acid solvent. Trivalent Am and Cm were separated from the Ln by employing a 1 cm(phi) x 10 cm resin column with the mixed solvent system composed of concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) and alcohols. The distribution coefficients (Kd) and the separation factors between An and Ln (alpha(An)(Ln)) increased as the alcohol content of the solvent mixture increased. On the other hand, the Kd and alpha(An)(Ln) decreased drastically upon the addition of water to the solvent mixture. Among the four alcohols investigated (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol and n-butanol), the ethanol-HCl mixed solvent system showed the largest Kd and alpha(An)(Ln). The mechanism of adsorption for An and Ln cations on the pyridine resin is discussed in addition to the results presented herein.