Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction

Abstract Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalysts with ~ 2% Pt loading have been developed for the generation of U(IV) in HNO3-N2H4 medium, used in the nuclear spent fuel reprocessing. Pt was impregnated in the catalysts via reductive heat treatment. The catalysts were characterized by x-ray d...

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Main Authors: Kuntal Kumar Pal, Ramakrishna Reddy, Chanchal Ghosh, K. Ananthasivan, P. Velavendan, Ramesh L. Gardas, Sandip Dhara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03867-y
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author Kuntal Kumar Pal
Ramakrishna Reddy
Chanchal Ghosh
K. Ananthasivan
P. Velavendan
Ramesh L. Gardas
Sandip Dhara
author_facet Kuntal Kumar Pal
Ramakrishna Reddy
Chanchal Ghosh
K. Ananthasivan
P. Velavendan
Ramesh L. Gardas
Sandip Dhara
author_sort Kuntal Kumar Pal
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalysts with ~ 2% Pt loading have been developed for the generation of U(IV) in HNO3-N2H4 medium, used in the nuclear spent fuel reprocessing. Pt was impregnated in the catalysts via reductive heat treatment. The catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction, magnetization measurement, field emission scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscope studies. Catalysts reduced at 200 °C and above temperatures were found to be sufficient for the complete reduction of Pt to its Pt(0) state and were highly efficient for the U(IV) generation via hydrogenation. The U(IV) produced during the experiment was analyzed via the titrimetric and spectroscopic methods. Among all the catalysts prepared under the scope of the study, the highest saturation magnetization was measured for the Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt catalysts prepared at 200 °C (Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(200)). However, the catalyst was least effective towards U(VI) reduction compare to the catalysts prepare at 250 °C (Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(250)) and 300 °C (Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(300)). The saturation magnetization of Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(300) was found to be higher than that of Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(250). Finally, Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(300) was considered a model catalyst for the detailed characterization, benchmarking and recycling of the catalyst material. Samples with higher silica content were also prepared at 300 °C and assessed for their catalytic activity.
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spelling doaj-art-4fb8f865b5f04ceb868f2923784fbb9f2025-08-20T04:01:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-03867-yMagnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reductionKuntal Kumar Pal0Ramakrishna Reddy1Chanchal Ghosh2K. Ananthasivan3P. Velavendan4Ramesh L. Gardas5Sandip Dhara6Reprocessing Material Development Section, Process Radiochemistry Reprocessing Research & Development Division, Reprocessing Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic ResearchHomi Bhabha National InstitutePhysical Metallurgy Division, Metallurgy & Materials Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic ResearchReprocessing Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic ResearchReprocessing Material Development Section, Process Radiochemistry Reprocessing Research & Development Division, Reprocessing Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic ResearchDepartment of Chemistry, Indian Institute of TechnologyHomi Bhabha National InstituteAbstract Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalysts with ~ 2% Pt loading have been developed for the generation of U(IV) in HNO3-N2H4 medium, used in the nuclear spent fuel reprocessing. Pt was impregnated in the catalysts via reductive heat treatment. The catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction, magnetization measurement, field emission scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscope studies. Catalysts reduced at 200 °C and above temperatures were found to be sufficient for the complete reduction of Pt to its Pt(0) state and were highly efficient for the U(IV) generation via hydrogenation. The U(IV) produced during the experiment was analyzed via the titrimetric and spectroscopic methods. Among all the catalysts prepared under the scope of the study, the highest saturation magnetization was measured for the Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt catalysts prepared at 200 °C (Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(200)). However, the catalyst was least effective towards U(VI) reduction compare to the catalysts prepare at 250 °C (Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(250)) and 300 °C (Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(300)). The saturation magnetization of Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(300) was found to be higher than that of Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(250). Finally, Fe3O4-10SiO2/Pt(300) was considered a model catalyst for the detailed characterization, benchmarking and recycling of the catalyst material. Samples with higher silica content were also prepared at 300 °C and assessed for their catalytic activity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03867-yMagnetic nanoparticleCatalysisUranium reductionFe3O4-SiO2/PtHydrogenation
spellingShingle Kuntal Kumar Pal
Ramakrishna Reddy
Chanchal Ghosh
K. Ananthasivan
P. Velavendan
Ramesh L. Gardas
Sandip Dhara
Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
Scientific Reports
Magnetic nanoparticle
Catalysis
Uranium reduction
Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt
Hydrogenation
title Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
title_full Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
title_fullStr Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
title_full_unstemmed Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
title_short Magnetically separable Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
title_sort magnetically separable fe3o4 sio2 pt catalyst and its application for uranium reduction
topic Magnetic nanoparticle
Catalysis
Uranium reduction
Fe3O4-SiO2/Pt
Hydrogenation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03867-y
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AT kananthasivan magneticallyseparablefe3o4sio2ptcatalystanditsapplicationforuraniumreduction
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