f-Element Electrochemistry in RTIL Solutions: Electrochemical Separation of Lanthanides and Actinides

Electrochemical methods can be used to effectively separate actinide and lanthanide species from complex mixtures. This is based on the unique electrochemical properties of each specific target species. In studies it has been found that, with the exception of Ce, aqueous solutions provide unsuitable electrochemical windows to effectively evaluate the thermodynamic properties that are useful for chemical separations. Therefore, a more novel approach was examined which eliminated the aqueous solution with a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) solution. RTIL solutions do not suffer from the side reactions that are prominent in aqueous environments. In addition, the potential window is much larger for the RTIL solutions. They are a new starting point for the electrochemical separation of individual species from a mixture. The ultimate goal is to fully characterize the oxidation/reduction of f-elements in RTILs to establish the baseline thermodynamic and kinetic data for these systems. The data will be used to critically evaluate the ability to use electrochemical methods for controlled, potential mediated, separation of f-elements by electroplating on electrodes surfaces. Factors that will influence the ability to measure the redox processes in f-elements in RTIL solutions and electroplating on electrode surfaces include the structure, solubility, and stability of the target species in these solutions

A Tribute to Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch

This is a tribute to Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch, who honorably served two decades on the bench during a period of great transition in the South

A Tribute to Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch

This is a tribute to Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch, who honorably served two decades on the bench during a period of great transition in the South

Eleventh Circuit: Executive Summary - Report of the Eleventh Circuit Task Force on Gender Bias

In 1993 the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council\u27s Task Force on Gender Bias was established. It was the Mandate of this Task Force to study the effects of gender in the Eleventh Circuit and the courts that comprise the Eleventh Circuit. The Task Force elected to employ survey methods to discover whether or not various members of the court family believed that gender bias existed, if so in what form, and whether or not such bias affects the judicial process

The Electrochemical Separation of Curium and Americium: Quaterly Report August-December 2004

This research report outlines the current status and progress associated with the electrochemical separation of Curium and Americium. The following pages outline the progress on our project to date. We have been actively performing research on this project for three months and are currently on schedule in terms of the proposed timelines. The initial focus of the project involved setting up the laboratories for the studies outlined in the grant proposal. The instrumentation needed included an electrochemical work station that will perform the bulk of the electrochemical studies. This instrument will complement the electrochemical instrumentation in Dr. Hatchett’s laboratory and will be housed in Dr. Czerwinski’s laboratory. In addition the required electrodes, electrochemical glassware, side apparatus including nitrogen degassers and the chemicals for the initial studies were obtained

The Electrochemical Separation of Curium and Americium: Quaterly Report January - March, 2006

This research report outlines the current status and progress associated with the electrochemical separation of Curium and Americium. For two and a half years, research has been actively performed on this project, and is currently on schedule for the proposed timelines. Progress: • The electrochemical characterization of Ce and Eu complexed with EDTA, NTA, and Citrate has been completed. • Synthesis of the polymer substrate and the chelating ligand is underway. Approximately 50 grams of disulfide has been produced to produce the chelating thiol group required for the last set of studies. • Gold substrates have been prepared to perform the 2-D surface chelation using the chelating disulfide and thiol. The goal is to determine the potentials required for chelation. • Polymer gold composite systems have been prepared and characterized for use with the chelating ligands

Electrochemical Separation of Curium and Americium

The objective of this project is to use electrochemical techniques to develop a thermodynamic understanding of actinide and lanthanide species in aqueous solution and use this data to effectively separate species with very similar chemical properties. In consultation with a national laboratory collaborators, electrochemical methods and materials will be evaluated and used to exploit the thermodynamic differences between similar chemical species enhancing the ability to selectively target and sequester individual species from mixtures. This project is in its third year and has successfully completed Phases 1 and 2. The following were specific goals for this year: To develop a fundamental understanding of the thermodynamic properties of actinide and lanthanide species such as Cm, Am, Ce, Nd, Eu, and Sm after complex formation. To examine how chelation influences the thermodynamic properties of waste form species. To use systematic studies to distinguish the thermodynamic signatures and ability to shift thermodynamic potentials using chelation to enhance separation properties

f-Element Electrochemistry in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

This proposal focuses on f-element electrochemistry in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). The ultimate goal is to fully characterize the oxidation/reduction of elements in RTILs to establish the baseline thermodynamic and kinetic data for these systems. The data will be used to critically evaluate the ability to use electrochemical methods for controlled, potential mediated, separation off-elements by electroplating on electrodes surfaces. Factors that will influence the ability to measure the redox processes in f-elements in RTIL solutions and electroplating on electrode surfaces include the structure, solubility, and stability of the target species in these solutions. These factors will be addressed using a multidisciplinary research approach with techniques including UV/Vis, and FTIR spectroscopy which will provide structural and stability information. These studies will provide a comprehensive study of the use of RTIL systems in the electrochemical analysis and potential dependent separation of f-elements by electroplating. This research will address the need to demonstrate, by 2015, progress in understanding, modeling and controlling chemical reactivity and energy transfer processes in solutions at electrochemical interfaces using non-aqueous solutions comprised entirely of organic cations and inorganic/organic anions. Electrochemical studies will examine the interfacial electron transfer processes of f-elements and the potential dependent deposition of f-elements at electrode surfaces. These studies will probe the ability to use RTIL systems in the controlled, potential dependent, separation of f-elements species from complex mixtures

Influence of NaBH4 reduction on the hydrogen storage properties of aniline/Pd composite materials

The characterization and chemical synthesis of composites containing aniline and N-Phenylenediamine (NPPD), synthesized with palladium, will be analyzed according to recent studies [1] to confer hydrogen storage capabilities. The palladium metal will be introduced as either PdCl4 2- or PdCl2 2-. The experiments will be carried out under both acidic and non-acidic conditions forming a total of 8 different compounds. Each compound will be reduced with NaBH4 and analyzed using gas chromatography to measure hydrogen storage. Infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy will also be used to gather data concerning each compound

The Electrochemical Separation of Curium and Americium: Quaterly Report April - June, 2005

This research report outlines the current status and progress associated with the electrochemical separation of Curium and Americium. Results • We have completed the electrochemical investigation in of the Ce3+/Ce4+ redox couple and have determined the optimum experimental conditions. • Computer modeling of the cerium using the JChess speciation-modeling program has been completed for the Ce redox couple. Traditional complexing ligands such as EDTA, oxalate, NTA, phosphate, acetate, and sulfate have been purchased and will be used to initiate the complexation and electrochemical characterization. • Electrochemical investigations have continued on the Eu2+/Eu3+ redox system in HClO4 supporting electrolyte at a glassy carbon working electrode. The redox couple has been electrochemically resolved using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. The data suggests that the couple is stable with reversible oxidation/reduction occurring. • Complex formation has been initiated and theoretical calculations regarding the stability of species has been used to target the solution conditions required to view the oxidation/reduction processes