The invention provides a method for preparing an actinide metal peroxide from a corresponding actinide metal oxide under solid reaction conditions.

The subject matter of the invention is a method of preparation of zinc-oxygen-based nanoparticles, in which the organozinc precursor is treated with an oxidizing agent, wherein the organozinc precursor is a compound of the formula (R).sub.n(Zn).sub.m(L).sub.y(X).sub.z, where: R is straight, branched or cyclic C1-C10 alkyl group or straight, branched or cyclic C1-C10 alkenyl group, benzyl group, phenyl group, mesityl group, in which any hydrogen atom may be substituted with fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom; L is neutral donor organic ligand selected from the group of organic compounds including amine, phosphine, phosphine oxide, sulfoxide, ketone, amide, imine, ether, urea and its organic derivatives, aminosilane or perfluorinated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof; X is monoanionic organic ligand derived from the organic compound X-H, where H is a hydrogen atom with acidic properties and the compound X-H is carboxylic acid, amide, amine, imide, alcohol, mono- or diester of phosphoric acid, organic derivatives of phosphinic or phosphonic acid, phenol, mercaptan, hydroxy acid, amino acid, hydroxy amide, amino amide, hydroxy ester, amino ester, hydroxy ketone, amino ketone, urea and its organic derivatives, silanol, aminosilane, mercaptosilane and organic derivatives of alkoxysilane or perfluorinated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof; m and n are integers from 1 to 10; y and z are integers from 0 to 10, wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid or ozone, and the organozinc precursor is treated with the oxidizing agent under an inert gas atmosphere.

The invention also relates to zinc peroxide nanoparticles prepared by the above-defined method and their use as antibacterial and bacteriostatic materials, as a component of pyrotechnic compositions, photocatalyst, and single-source inorganic precursors of nanoparticulate forms of zinc oxide (ZnO).

The subject matter of the invention is a method of preparation of zinc-oxygen-based nanoparticles, in which the organozinc precursor is treated with an oxidizing agent, wherein the organozinc precursor is a compound of the formula (R).sub.n(Zn).sub.m(L).sub.y(X).sub.z, where: R is straight, branched or cyclic C1-C10 alkyl group or straight, branched or cyclic C1-C10 alkenyl group, benzyl group, phenyl group, mesityl group, in which any hydrogen atom may be substituted with fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom; L is neutral donor organic ligand selected from the group of organic compounds including amine, phosphine, phosphine oxide, sulfoxide, ketone, amide, imine, ether, urea and its organic derivatives, aminosilane or perfluorinated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof; X is monoanionic organic ligand derived from the organic compound X-H, where H is a hydrogen atom with acidic properties and the compound X-H is carboxylic acid, amide, amine, imide, alcohol, mono- or diester of phosphoric acid, organic derivatives of phosphinic or phosphonic acid, phenol, mercaptan, hydroxy acid, amino acid, hydroxy amide, amino amide, hydroxy ester, amino ester, hydroxy ketone, amino ketone, urea and its organic derivatives, silanol, aminosilane, mercaptosilane and organic derivatives of alkoxysilane or perfluorinated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof; m and n are integers from 1 to 10; y and z are integers from 0 to 10, wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid or ozone, and the organozinc precursor is treated with the oxidizing agent under an inert gas atmosphere.

The invention also relates to zinc peroxide nanoparticles prepared by the above-defined method and their use as antibacterial and bacteriostatic materials, as a component of pyrotechnic compositions, photocatalyst, and single-source inorganic precursors of nanoparticulate forms of zinc oxide (ZnO).

A method of separating actinium and/or radium from proton-irradiated thorium metal. The thorium metal is irradiated to produce isotopes including thorium, actinium and/or radium. The resultant product is dissolved in solution and a selective precipitant is used to precipitate a bulk portion of the thorium. The precipitated thorium can be recovered. Chromatography is carried out on the remaining solution to remove residual thorium and to separate the actinium from the radium.

A method of separating actinium and/or radium from proton-irradiated thorium metal. The thorium metal is irradiated to produce isotopes including thorium, actinium and/or radium. The resultant product is dissolved in solution and a selective precipitant is used to precipitate a bulk portion of the thorium. The precipitated thorium can be recovered. Chromatography is carried out on the remaining solution to remove residual thorium and to separate the actinium from the radium.

A method of separating actinium and/or radium from proton-irradiated thorium metal. The thorium metal is irradiated to produce isotopes including thorium, actinium and/or radium. The resultant product is dissolved in solution and a selective precipitant is used to precipitate a bulk portion of the thorium. The precipitated thorium can be recovered. Chromatography is carried out on the remaining solution to remove residual thorium and to separate the actinium from the radium.

The present invention provides a process for the formation of a coating comprising peroxynanoparticles of metals selected from the group consisting of: Ga, Ge, As, Se, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Tl, Pb and Bi on a solid substrate, comprising providing a basic solution containing at least a first metal selected from said group and hydrogen peroxide, and contacting said solution with a solid substrate having oxygen-containing chemically reactive groups on its surface.

The present invention provides a process for the formation of a coating comprising peroxynanoparticles of metals selected from the group consisting of: Ga, Ge, As, Se, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Tl, Pb and Bi on a solid substrate, comprising providing a basic solution containing at least a first metal selected from said group and hydrogen peroxide, and contacting said solution with a solid substrate having oxygen-containing chemically reactive groups on its surface.

A method to activate U.sub.3O.sub.8 for conversion of this uranium oxide to hydrated UO.sub.4 via reaction with hydrogen peroxide H.sub.2O.sub.2, wherein the following successive steps are performed: a) an aqueous suspension is prepared containing a powder of U.sub.3O.sub.8 and hydrogen peroxide; b) the aqueous suspension containing a powder of U.sub.3O.sub.8 and hydrogen peroxide is contacted with ozone, whereby an aqueous suspension is obtained of a powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8; c) optionally the powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8 is separated from the aqueous suspension. A method to convert U.sub.3O.sub.8 to hydrated UO.sub.4 of formula UO.sub.4, nH.sub.2O where n is 2 or 4, comprising at least one step at which hydrogen peroxide H.sub.2O.sub.2 is added to the aqueous suspension of a powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8 obtained at the end of step b) of the activation method or to an aqueous suspension prepared by placing in suspension in water the powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8 obtained at the end of step c) of the activation method.

A method to activate U.sub.3O.sub.8 for conversion of this uranium oxide to hydrated UO.sub.4 via reaction with hydrogen peroxide H.sub.2O.sub.2, wherein the following successive steps are performed: a) an aqueous suspension is prepared containing a powder of U.sub.3O.sub.8 and hydrogen peroxide; b) the aqueous suspension containing a powder of U.sub.3O.sub.8 and hydrogen peroxide is contacted with ozone, whereby an aqueous suspension is obtained of a powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8; c) optionally the powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8 is separated from the aqueous suspension.

A method to convert U.sub.3O.sub.8 to hydrated UO.sub.4 of formula UO.sub.4, nH.sub.2O where n is 2 or 4, comprising at least one step at which hydrogen peroxide H.sub.2O.sub.2 is added to the aqueous suspension of a powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8 obtained at the end of step b) of the activation method or to an aqueous suspension prepared by placing in suspension in water the powder of activated U.sub.3O.sub.8 obtained at the end of step c) of the activation method.