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The kinetics of decomposition of aqueous chlorous acid has been reinvestigated at pH 0.7-1.9, ionic strength 1.0 M (HSO 4 -/SO 4 2-), and temperature 25.0 ( 0.1°C. Optical absorbances were collected in the 240-450 nm wavelength range for up to ∼90% decomposition for time series lasting as long as 2 days. The number of absorbing species was investigated by matrix rank analysis; no absorbing intermediate was formed in significant concentration during the decomposition. Of the many mechanistic models tested, the one that fit best included the following reactive intermediates: HOCl, explains the variation in stoichiometric ratio as well as the maximum observed in the initial rate of ClO 2 formation as a function of pH. The kinetics of chlorous acid decomposition cannot be quantitatively fit through the last stages of the reaction without postulating a first-order decomposition. Scission of chlorous acid to give short-lived hydroxyl and chlorine-(II) monoxide is a plausible route for this process. A set of best-fit and literature-derived parameters is presented for the complete mechanism.

Alkaline solutions containing polyhydroxy carboxylates and Ca(II) are typical in cementitious radioactive waste repositories. Gluconate (Gluc(-)) is a structural and functional representative of these sugar carboxylates. In the current study, the structure and equilibria of complexes forming in such strongly alkaline solutions containing Ca(2+) and gluconate have been studied. It was found that Gluc(-) significantly increases the solubility of portlandite (Ca(OH)2(s)) under these conditions and Ca(2+) complexes of unexpectedly high stability are formed. The mononuclear (CaGluc(+) and [CaGlucOH](0)) complexes were found to be minor species, and predominant multinuclear complexes were identified. The formation of the neutral [Ca2Gluc(OH)3](0) (log β213 = 8.03) and [Ca3Gluc2(OH)4](0) (log β324 = 12.39) has been proven via H2/Pt-electrode potentiometric measurements and was confirmed via XAS, (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, conductometry, and freezing-point depression experiments. The binding sites of Gluc(-) were identified from multinuclear NMR measurements. Besides the carboxylate group, the O atoms on the second and third carbon atoms were proved to be the most probable sites for Ca(2+) binding. The suggested structure of the trinuclear complex was deduced from ab initio calculations. These observations are of relevance in the thermodynamic modeling of radioactive waste repositories, where the predominance of the binuclear Ca(2+) complex, which is a precursor of various high-stability ternary complexes with actinides, is demonstrated.

For many, especially complex, systems, modern spectroscopic measurements can be generated as large experimental data sets in matrix form. We report a new algorithm for the application of matrix rank analysis to extract significant experimental information from these large matrixes. The algorithm may be used to detect and remove erroneous rows and/or columns from the matrixes and to monitor the most significant experimental information along the rows and/or columns of the data sets. A new method for determining the number of absorbing species and a new concept for the treatment of experimental errors are presented. The algorithm is illustrated on real experimental examples.