Ion Recognition Approach to Volume Reduction of Alkaline Tank Waste by Separation of Sodium Salts

The purpose of this research involving collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is to explore new approaches to the separation of sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrate, and other sodium salts from high-level alkaline tank waste. The principal potential benefit is a major reduction in disposed waste volume, obviating the building of expensive new waste tanks and reducing the costs of vitrification. Principles of ion recognition are being researched toward discovery of liquid-liquid extraction systems that selectively separate sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrate from other waste components. The successful concept of pseudo hydroxide extraction using fluorinated alcohols and phenols is being developed at ORNL and PNNL toward a greater understanding of the controlling equilibria, role of solvation, and of synergistic effects involving crown ethers. Synthesis efforts are being directed toward enhanced sodium binding by crown ethers, both neutral and proton-ionizable. Studies with real tank waste at PNNL will provide feedback toward solvent compositions that have promising properties

Calculating growth rate of water hyacinth pollution wise (in relation to trophic state)

This study was carried out with respect to calculating growth rate of water hyacinth in relation to the trophic state of the water body. 50 water hyacinth plants about 10 from each lake were taken. The concentrations of phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium and calcium were determined. Biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen were also determined. Various growth aspects like total number of leaves were counted, root and petiole length were recorded, leaf area was plotted to obtain surface area. Growth Index was calculated based on fresh weight of the plant was chosen to study the growth of water hyacinth with respect to pollution levels of the 5 lakes. Growth Index was calculated using the equation GI = (A / M) ------- where M = Mean fresh weight of 530 water hyacinth plants collected from 5 lakes. A = Mean fresh weight of 10 water hyacinth plants collected from a particular lake in a particular month. A correlation of GI to pollution status of lakes was made and a correlation of lake water constituents with growth parameters of water hyacinth was done: The fresh mean weight of water hyacinth plants collected over 12 months period was distinctly higher for polluted Lakes when compared to less polluted lakes. Mean petiole length of plants collected from Yelahanka, Nagavara and Hebbal Lakes (polluted) were greater as compared to those collected from Jakkur and Doddabommsandra Lakes (less polluted). TSI based on TP was 88.28 for Nagavara lake which was Hypereutrophic and eutrophic for Jakkur lake where TP was 69.81. GI of water hyacinth plants showed a correlation coefficient of +0.62 to TP. This study concludes that higher the pollution level of the lake, higher would be the growth rate of water hyacinth. Polluted lakes had strong and sturdy petioles and more GI compared to less polluted lakes. TP versus GI, showed a good positive person's correlation coefficient. TP the limiting nutrient has significant impact on the pollution level

Studies in acetonitrile solutions. I. The calomel reference electrode. II. The polarographic behaviour of some organic compounds

The possibility of using a calomel electrode as a reference standard in the polarographic comparisons in acetonitrile has been studied. The results indicate that the time required for attaining a constant potential is too long to be convenient for such use. The behaviour of some organic nitrocompounds at the dropping mercury electrode in acetonitrile containing 0.1 molar tetrabutylammonium iodide has been studied. The nitroanilines and the nitrophenols give distinct double waves on polarographic reduction. There is no formation of any maxima in the case of the nitroanilines, whereas, maxima are found to develop with time in the case of the nitrophenols. The maxima are found to be non-suppressible. The ease of reduction of the nitrophenols and the nitroanilines, as given by their half-wave potentials, is in agreement with the order expected on the basis of the previously established theories of Shikata and Astle. A possible mechanism of the reduction is given with the irreversibility of the reduction in view.Science, Faculty ofChemistry, Department ofGraduat

A practical and facile approach towards indole alkaloids: (-)-mitralactonine

An efficient approach to (-)-mitralactonine using Pictet-Spengler cyclisation with a highly functionalised masked aldehyde is described. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (SAD) is ­utilised to introduce chirality in the key substrate

A ring closing metathesis approach to the indole alkaloid mitralactonine

An efficient utilisation of RCM leading to a convenient synthesis of a pentacyclic indole alkaloid is described