Apatite-staffelite ore flotation efficiency improvement using two-stage slurry thickening

The studies were performed suggesting that the cause of P2O5 losses during apatite-staffelite ores (ASO) treatment are due to non-selective flocculation of fine classes during flotation. When using strong flocculants, special preparation of condensed slurries is necessary, ensuring their deflocculation before the flotation process. A scheme and mode of preparation of fine classes for the flotation process have been developed, including thickening of the classification overflows using strong anionic flocculants and deflocculation of the thickened product before the flotation process with reagents-dispersants used in the basic flotation mode. A mode of preparation of slimes of ASO ores for flotation is proposed, including thickening of the discharge of the classification operation using the anionic flocculant “Praestol-2540”, conditioning of the condensed product with additions of liquid glass and caustic soda in a ratio of 1 : 1, dilution and re-thickening of deflocculated slimes, consolidation and flotation thickened sludge and sand. The big laboratory tests have shown that the application of the developed regime provides a total increase in the extraction of P2O5 from ore from 70,1 to 71,5 % with an increase in the P2O5 content in apatite concentrate from 37,1 to 37,8 %, which makes the developed technology promising for processing refractory ASO at Kovdorsky GOK.

Nucleation and Condensation of Magnesium Vapor in Argon Carrier

The nucleation and condensation of Magnesium (Mg) vapor carried by argon gas (Ar) were examined. The condensation of Mg vapor at a heat source temperature of 1273–1473 K and Ar flow rate of 0.1–0.4 m3/h was analyzed. The result indicated that the condensation temperature is affected by the heat source temperature and Ar flow rate, and the condensation temperature of Mg vapor was 1013.3 K at a heat source temperature of 1473 K and Ar flow rate of 0.2 m3/h. The effects of Mg vapor partial pressure and temperature of the condensation zone on the nucleation and condensation of Mg vapor carried by Ar were calculated and analyzed in terms of atomic collisions and critical nucleation radius. Increased vapor oversaturation and decreased condensation temperature were favorable for liquid nucleation growth. The Mg condensation products in Ar flow rate of 0.2 m3/h at a heat source temperature of 1473 K were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS, which indicated that the condensed product was of high purity and not easily oxidized in Ar flow. In this paper, the quality of Mg vapor condensation was controlled, which provided the theoretical and experimental basis for a continuous Mg production process.

Preparation of UF4 by Carbochlorination of U3O8 and Solid-State Halogen Exchange Reaction

Uranium tetrafluoride was synthesized using a novel method, which consists of a combination of carbochlorination reaction between a mixture of U3O8 and sucrose carbon with chlorine, and a solid-state halogen exchange reaction between the products of the carbochlorination reaction and sodium fluoride. The thermodynamic feasibility to produce the halogen exchange reaction between UCl4 and NaF was analyzed. Reactions are favorable in standard conditions, even at low temperature. We have prepared a mixture of UCl4 and UCl2O2 by U3O8 treatment in Cl2 atmosphere with presence of sucrose carbon at 900 °C. UCl4 and UCl2O2 were obtained as a condensed product, which was collected in a quartz capsule containing NaF. The capsules were sealed after several repeated stages of argon purges and mechanic vacuum. Subsequently, they were treated at 300–350 °C for 2 h. We obtained that when NaF is the limiting reagent, the solid product of the thermal treatment of the capsules consists in a mixture of UF4 and NaCl. Solid products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Gaseous products were identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Selective labelling of arginine residues engaged in binding sulfatedglycosaminoglycans

IAbstractThe activities of hundreds of proteins in the extracellular space are regulated by binding to the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS). These interactions are driven by ionic bonds between sulfate and carboxylate groups on the polysaccharide and the side chains of basic residues in the protein. Here we develop a method to selectively label the guanidino side chains of arginine residues in proteins that engage the anionic groups in the sugar. The protein is bound to heparin (a common experimental proxy for HS) on an affinity column. Arginine side chains that are exposed to solvent, and thus involved in binding, are protected by reaction with the dicarbonyl phenylgyoxal (PGO). Elution of the bound proteins then exposes arginine side chains that had directly engaged with anionic groups on the polysaccharide. These are reacted with hydroxyl-phenylglyoxal (HPG). PGO was found to generate three products: a 1:1 product, the 1:1 water condensed product and a 2:1 PGO:arginine product. These three reaction products and that of HPG had distinct masses. Scripts were written to analyse the mass spectra and so identify HPG labelled arginine residues. Proof of principle was acquired on model peptides. The method was then applied to the identification of heparin binding arginine residues in fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 1 and 2. The data demonstrate that four out of eleven arginine residues on FGF2 and five out of six arginine residues of FGF1 engage heparin. Our approach provides a rapid and reliable means to identify arginines involved in functional complexes such as those of proteins with heparin

Thermodynamic simulation of oxidation process of the Moss-Mo3Si hypoeutectic alloy, doped with scandium or neodymium

In order to study the effect of yttrium additives on the oxidation of molybdenum silicide alloys, thermodynamic modeling of the interaction in Mo-Mo3Si-Sc5Si3 и Mo-Mo3Si-NdSi systems with dry and moist air was performed in the temperature range 25-2000 °C. The calculations were performed using the HSC Chemistry 6.12 software, into the database of which the calculated missing thermochemical characteristics silicates, molybdates of scandium and neodymium were entered. Based on the obtained dependences of the composition of phases on temperature and charge of the oxidant (air or vapor-air mixture), the sequence of phase formation was determined and the compositions of oxidation products were estimated. It is shown that, under equilibrium conditions, the oxidation process with dry and moist air proceeds almost equally, since the interaction of the components of the alloy with oxygen is thermodynamically preferable than with water vapor. According to the obtained thermodynamic models, the oxidation process of the Mo-5Si-3(Sc, Nd) (wt.%) alloys involves a sequence of the following chemical transformations: at the beginning Mo and Sc (Nd) silicides oxidize forming Sc2O3 ( Nd2O3), SiO2 and elemental Mo, then molybdenum is oxidized to MoO2 and Sc2O3 or Nd2O3 interacts with SiO2 with the formation of appropriate silicates Sc2Si2O7 или Nd2Si2O7. As a result of the complete oxidation of the alloy, MoO3 and Sc2(MoO4)3 or Nd2Mo4O15 are added to the condensed product, and molybdenum oxide (MoO3)n vapor appears in the gas phase. In addition, the formation of Nd2Mo2O7 and Nd2 (MoO4)3 is possible. During the oxidation of the Mo-5Si-3Nd alloy at T> 1700 oC, Nd(OH)3 can be formed in the condensed reaction products. According to the results of complete thermodynamic analysis, the formation of silicates and molybdates of scandium and neodymium can promote to the formation of a protective film on the surface of the alloys, which limits the diffusion of oxygen in them, and as a result, the oxidation resistance of alloys should increase.

Thermodynamic simulation of oxidation process of the Moss-Mo3Si hypoeutectic alloy, doped with yttrium

In order to study the effect of yttrium additives on the oxidation of molybdenum silicide alloys, thermodynamic modeling of the interaction in the Mo-Mo3Si-Y5Si3 system with dry and moist air was performed in the temperature range 25-2000 °C. To predict the composition of oxidation products and the sequence of the formation of phase components, the dependences on the temperature and consumption of oxidants – water vapor and oxygen of the air – are obtained. The calculations were performed using the HSC Chemistry 6.12 software, into the database of which the calculated missing thermochemical characteristics of Y2Si2O7, Y2SiO5 silicates and yttrium molybdates Y2Mo3O12, Y2MoO6 were entered. It is shown that, under equilibrium conditions, the oxidation process with dry and moist air proceeds almost equally, since the interaction of the components of the alloy with oxygen is thermodynamically preferable than with water vapor. According to the obtained thermodynamic models, the oxidation process of the Mo-5 wt. % Si alloy of the hypoeutectic composition doped with yttrium can be represented as a sequence of the following chemical transformations: firstly Mo and Y silicides oxidize forming Y2O3, SiO2 and metallic Mo, then molybdenum is oxidized to MoO2 and Y2O3 interacts with SiO2 with the formation of silicates Y2SiO5 and Y2Si2O7. As a result of the complete oxidation of the alloy, MoO3 and Y2Mo3O12 are added to the condensed product, and molybdenum oxide (MoO3)n vapor appears in the gas phase. Based on the results of a complete thermodynamic analysis, the possibility of the formation of silicates and yttrium molybdate during the oxidation of the hypoeutectic alloy Mo-5Si-3Y (wt. %) was established. This can increase its oxidation resistance due to the formation of a protective film limiting the diffusion of oxygen into the alloy, which, of course, requires experimental confirmation.

Highly selective self-condensation of cyclic ketones using MOF-encapsulating phosphotungstic acid for renewable high-density fuel

MOF encapsulating catalyst is very selective to transfer biomass-derived cyclic ketones to mono-condensed product through self-condensation and provides great potential for the synthesis of renewable high-density biofuel.