Additional questions are: What are the encapsulating atoms? How difficult was the process and what rates were achieved? What factors most seriously affect the economics?
Dear Robert Stephen Higgins yes, there are several reports on the synthesis ad structural characterization of uranium metallofullerenes. Please see e.g. the following articles:
1. Purification of Uranium‐based Endohedral Metallofullerenes (EMFs) by Selective Supramolecular Encapsulation and Release
Article Purification of Uranium‐based Endohedral Metallofullerenes (...
2. Interconversions between Uranium Mono-metallofullerenes: Mechanistic Implications and Role of Asymmetric Cages
Article Interconversions between Uranium Mono-metallofullerenes: Mec...
3. Single crystal structures and theoretical calculations of uranium endohedral metallofullerenes (U@C2n, 2n = 74, 82) show cage isomer dependent oxidation states for U
Article Single Crystal Structures and Theoretical Calculations of Ur...
The latter article is freely available as public full text on RG.
Mr. Higgins,
A research issue concentrating on 'capturing of uranium atoms in fullerenes' has impact rather on the fundamental knowledge of the chemistry of uranium atoms, despite, the fact that carbides of uranium atoms are among the most stable species of uranium ions from the perspective of the chemical thermodynamics.
Such research issue, perhaps, sould not have significant impact on the Economics, because of in the environment uranium ions form stable inorganic and metal-organics complexes with environmental ligands in the both condensed phases. In fact, under environmental conditions there is a lack of ''free'' uranium ions.
However, talking about mining of radionuclides; and, of uranium, im particular, the pollution of the Nature is not related to the radionuclides themselves, but to other havy metal ions, some of which form relatively labile inorganic and metal-organics, including organometallics with ligands from the environment.
Therefore, serious impact on the Economy has the environmental pollution of heavy metal ions, due to mining of radionuclides. Development of effective methods for exctraction and determination of species of these heavy metal ions in the laboratory and the environment affects crucialy the Economics, rather than development of methods for exctaction of uranium ions themselves.
In other words, a crucial impact on the Economy has the 'environmental speciation, quantification and structural determination of chemical compounds of heavy metal ion.' Of course, the latter wording does not exclude from understanding of the chemistry of radionuclides under environmental conditions, as well.
Ms. Ivanova,
I must tell you that you misunderstood the question. I was not writing about metal ions but rather, about buckminster fullerenes which are a unique structure of carbon or possibly silicone or maybe other atoms in a soccer ball-like structure that encapsulates a larger atom. The economics I mentioned pertains to the economics of producing such a substance in quantity.
Bob Higgins
Mr. Higgins,
I have no experience in the organic synthesis of fullerenes. Thus, I am not aware of the maximal size of their spheres. However, if it is possible to be isolated such derivatives, then there would not be a problem to be embedded or binded various of the observed in the environment specials of radionuclides.
Dear Robert Stephen Higgins yes, there are several reports on the synthesis ad structural characterization of uranium metallofullerenes. Please see e.g. the following articles:
1. Purification of Uranium‐based Endohedral Metallofullerenes (EMFs) by Selective Supramolecular Encapsulation and Release
Article Purification of Uranium‐based Endohedral Metallofullerenes (...
2. Interconversions between Uranium Mono-metallofullerenes: Mechanistic Implications and Role of Asymmetric Cages
Article Interconversions between Uranium Mono-metallofullerenes: Mec...
3. Single crystal structures and theoretical calculations of uranium endohedral metallofullerenes (U@C2n, 2n = 74, 82) show cage isomer dependent oxidation states for U
Article Single Crystal Structures and Theoretical Calculations of Ur...
The latter article is freely available as public full text on RG.
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