Hydrophilic sulfonated bis-1,2,4-triazine ligands are highly effective reagents for separating actinides(iii) from lanthanides(iii) via selective formation of aqueous actinide complexes

We report the first examples of hydrophilic 6,6′-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (BTBP) and 2,9-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (BTPhen) ligands, and their applications as actinide(iii) selective aqueous complexing agents. The combination of a hydrophobic diamide ligand in the organic phase and a hydrophilic tetrasulfonated bis-triazine ligand in the aqueous phase is able to separate Am(iii) from Eu(iii) by selective Am(iii) complex formation across a range of nitric acid concentrations with very high selectivities, and without the use of buffers. In contrast, disulfonated bis-triazine ligands are unable to separate Am(iii) from Eu(iii) in this system. The greater ability of the tetrasulfonated ligands to retain Am(iii) selectively in the aqueous phase than the corresponding disulfonated ligands appears to be due to the higher aqueous solubilities of the complexes of the tetrasulfonated ligands with Am(iii). The selectivities for Am(iii) complexation observed with hydrophilic tetrasulfonated bis-triazine ligands are in many cases far higher than those found with the polyaminocarboxylate ligands previously used as actinide-selective complexing agents, and are comparable to those found with the parent hydrophobic bis-triazine ligands. Thus we demonstrate a feasible alternative method to separate actinides from lanthanides than the widely studied approach of selective actinide extraction with hydrophobic bis-1,2,4-triazine ligands such as CyMe₄-BTBP and CyMe₄-BTPhen.     

Extraction of americium(III) and europium(III) using a gamma pre-irradiated solution of N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dibutyltetradecyl malonamide in n-dodecane modified with N,N′-dihexyloctanamide

The extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) using a γ-pre-irradiated N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dibutyltetradecyl malonamide (DMDBTDMA) modified with N,N′-dihexyloctanamide (DHOA) in n-dodecane (NDD) at 4.5M HNO₃ has been studied as a function of the absorbed dose up to 2×10⁶ Gray. The distribution ratios of Am(III) and Eu(III) were almost constant until a dose of 1×10⁵ Gray and then they decreased gradually up to a dose of 2×10⁶ Gray. The decrease of the distribution ratios of Am(III) and Eu(III) are due to the decreasing concentration of the DMDBTDMA by a γ-pre-irradiation and these results were supported by a determination of the DMDBTDMA concentration with a gas chromatography method. The distribution ratios of Am(III), Eu(III), Ce, Nd and Y with γ-pre-irradiated (DMDBTDMA-DHOA)/NDD have also been studied as a function of the nitric acid concentration and the extraction temperature.     

Radiation effects on the extraction of americium(III) with di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid

Radiation effects on the extraction of Am(III) with di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA) was studied by exposing DEHPA to gamma rays under various conditions. Gamma irradiation of undiluted DEHPA causes an enhancement of extraction of Am(III) due to the formation of mono (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (MEHPA) similarly to that of Nd(III). The presence of diluent during irradiation brought about a slight difference from the results in the absence of a diluent. The marked change occurred in Df when the organic solvent was exposed to γ-ray while being mixed with nitric acid solution. An initial slight increase of Df for Am(III) and Nd(III) was followed by a subsequent decrease beyond an absorbed dose of approximately 200 Wh·1⁻¹. This phenomenon was explained by the enhanced decomposition of DEHPA and the subsequent strong hydrolytic and radiolytic decomposition of MEHPA to H₃PO₄ in the aqueous phase, and the complex forming nature of H₃PO₄ with Am(III) and Nd(III).     

Radiation stability of benzyldibutylamine and benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate in the extraction of lanthanides and americium

The radiation stability was investigated of organic phases containing tertiary benzyldialkylamines and quaternary benzyltrialkylammonium salts which are sultable for the separation of lanthanides and americium from irradiated nuclear fuel. Attention was paid to changes of the extraction properties in Eu(III) and Am(III) extraction. The influence of the individual components forming the organic phase (extractant, solvent, solubilizer and nitric acid) on the decrease of the extraction capacity of the organic phase after irradiation is discussed. The greatest changes in the distribution coefficients D_Eu and D_Am after irradiation were shown for extraction in the presence of nitric acid. As regards the absorbed dose, these systems can be considered as stable in comparison with organophosphorus extractans.     

Systematic Modifications of BTP-type Ligands and Effects on the Separation of Trivalent Lanthanides and Actinides

In this study the separation of Am(III) from Eu(III) in nitric acid using two BTP-type N-donor ligands, 2,6-bis(6-ethyl-1,2–diazine-3-yl)pyridine (Et-BDP) and 2,6-bis(4-ⁿpropyl-2,3,5,6-tetrazine-1-yl)pyridine (ⁿPr-tetrazine) is presented. The extraction and separation properties of both ligands are tested by two phase liquid-liquid extraction at different acid concentrations. In contrast to ⁿPr-BTP the bisdiazinyl ligand Et-BDP is prone to protonation at nitric acid concentrations of 0.2 M and higher. A separation factor of SF_Am/Eu ≈ 5 is obtained using Et-BDP as extracting ligand and with ⁿPr-tetrazine a SF_Am/Eu of 9.1 is realized. Hereby 2-bromodecanoic acid as lipophilic anion source is needed.     

Basicity, complexation ability and interfacial behavior of BTBPs: a simulation study

BTBPs represent an important class of tetradentate heterocyclic ligands with N-donor binding sites that have been recently developed to separate trivalent actinides from lanthanides. We first investigate by QM calculations the conformational properties, basicity and complexation energies with Eu(NO(3))(3), comparing BTBP derivatives with alkyl substituents on the pyridinyl or triazinyl moieties to their conformationally cis-locked BTPhen analogues. The latter, preorganized for protonation and complexation, are found to be more basic and to afford more stable complexes. We next explore the interfacial behavior of CyMe(4)BTBP in its neutral versus protonated states and of 1:1 Eu(NO(3))(3)(CyMe(4)BTBP) complexes at the aqueous interface with an octanol-hexane mixture. The neutral BTBP ligand displays no visible surface activity, whereas protonated and complexed ligands are surface active. Taken together, the QM and MD results suggest that Eu(III) extraction by BTBPs occurs at the interface, via the protonated form of the ligand in acidic conditions, explaining why the extraction kinetics is slow and why BTPhen ligands are more efficient than BTBPs.     

A study of radiation effects on the extraction of americium(III) with acidic organophosphates

Radiation effects on the extraction of americium(III) with several dialkylphosphoric and monoalkylphosphoric acids have been studied comparatively. The extractants were exposed to⁶⁰Co γ-rays in the absence and presence of diluent and HNO₃. The Df of Am(III) was measured and the yield of radiolytic products was determined after γ-irradiation as a function of the absorbed dose. Di(hexoxyethyl)phosphoric acid was the most susceptible to radiation among the extractants studied and its extractability was weakened by radiation regardless of the presence or absence of diluent or HNO₃. Diisodecylphosphoric acid itself showed an enhancement upon irradiation but incurred a depressant effect upon intimate contact with HNO₃·Mono(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid showed a decrease of the Df of Am(III), similarly to DIDPA in the presence of HNO₃ during γ-irradiation. All the above extractants gave H₃PO₄ as the principal radiolytic product upon γ-irradiation upon intimate contact with HNO₃ causing decreasing solely the extraction of Am(III). Di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid proved to be the most stable extractant to radiation among those studied.     

Separation of curium from americium using composite sorbents and complexing agent solutions: part 2

TODGA–PAN composite sorbent and (PhSO₃H)₂–BTPhen in nitric acid solution were employed as a system for separation of curium from americium. The influence of aqueous phase composition (complexing agent and nitric acid concentrations) on weight distribution coefficients and Cm/Am separation factor was studied in batch experiments with trace amounts of ²⁴¹Am and ²⁴⁴Cm. Based on the results obtained, column experiment was designed and conducted. The Cm/Am separation factor of 3.8 ± 0.1 found in batch experiments with TODGA–PAN could be reproduced also in column experiment resulting in good separation of Cm from Am. The efficiency of Cm separation from Am in the TODGA–PAN system was compared with the analogous system with DGA resin (Triskem International). After separation on a 0.5 mL column (φ4.7 × 29 mm) the Cm fraction containing 93% of Cm(III) contained only 3% of Am(III) in optimum conditions.

     

Complexation and the laser luminescence studies of Eu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) with EDTA,CDTA, and PDTA and their ternary complexation with dicarboxylates

Spectroscopy has been used to determine the number of coordinated water molecules bound to Eu(III) and Cm(III) in a series of binary complexes of polyaminocarboxylate and their ternary complexes with dicarboxylates as well as with similar ligands with additional O-, N-, and S-donors. Complexes of Eu(III) and Cm(III) with polyaminocarboxylate alone contain ca. 2.5–3.0 waters of hydration. Increasing the steric requirement of a polyaminocarboxylate by increasing the number of groups in the ligand backbone does not appreciably change the hydration of these cations. The stability constants of the binary and ternary complexes of Cm(III), Am(III), and Eu(III) with these ligands were measured by solvent extraction in a solution of 0.1 M (NaClO₄). The size, basicity, specific M³⁺-second ligand interactions, and steric requirement of the ligands are the factors which affect the ternary complexation. Knowledge of the chemical species formed by actinide cations with organic ligands (carboxylates and aminocarboxylates), which are present in all nuclear waste, is important to understand the behavior of waste forms and the migration behavior of actinides in the environment.     

Trivalent actinide and lanthanide separations by tetradentate nitrogen ligands: a quantum chemistry study

Although a variety of tetradentate ligands, 6,6'-bis(5,6-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2'-bipyridines (BTBPs), have been proved as effective ligands for selective extraction of Am(III) over Eu(III) experimentally, the origin of their selectivity is still an open question. To elucidate this question, the geometric and electronic structures of the actinide and lanthanide complexes with the BTBPs have been investigated systematically by using relativistic quantum chemistry calculations. We show herein that in 1:1 (metal:ligand) type complexes substitution of electron-donating groups to the BTBP molecule can enhance its coordination ability and thus the energetic stability of the formed Am(III) and Eu(III) complexes in the gas phase. According to our results, Eu(III) can coordinate to the BTBPs with higher stability in energy than Am(III), no matter whether there are nitrate ions in the inner-sphere complexes. The presence of nitrate ions leads to formation of the probable Am(III) and Eu(III) complexes, M(NO(3))(3)(H(2)O)(n) (M = Am, Eu), in nitric acid solutions. It has been found that the changes of Gibbs free energy play an important role for Am(III)/Eu(III) separation. In fact, the weaker complexing ability of Am(III) with nitrate ions and water molecules makes the decomposition of Am(NO(3))(3)(H(2)O)(4) more favorable in energy, which may thus increase the possibility of formation of Am(BTBPs)(NO(3))(3). Our work may shed light on the design of novel extractants for Am(III)/Eu(III) separation.     

Partitioning of minor actinides: Effects of gamma irradiation on the extracting capabilities of a selected calixarene-based picolinamide ligand

The ligand [3-N-(6-carboxymethylpicolinamide)propyloxy]calix[6]arene (1) has been selected among a series of calixarene-based picolinamide ligands as a possible candidate to be used in a small-scale process for the An/Ln separation under the option of the advanced reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel. In this frame, due to the high radioactivity of the nitric solutions to be treated, the behaviour of the ligand under irradiation conditions is undoubtedly of key importance.Liquid–liquid extraction tests were performed, in order to ascertain the extracting capabilities of the calixarene ligand 1 before and after γ-irradiation. A wide range of absorbed doses was investigated, and the tests were performed both in reactive and inert (N₂) atmosphere.The determination of distribution coefficients for actinides and lanthanides, and of the separation factors between elements of the two families was carried out by using γ-spectrometry (as for ²⁴¹Am and ¹⁵²Eu) and ICP-mass spectrometry (MS) (as for all the lanthanides of interest).Contrarily to what observed in the case of other previously and currently studied ligands [Baaden, M., Berny, F., Muzet, N., Troxler, L., Wipff, G., 2000. In: Lumetta, G., Rogers, R., Gopolan A. (Eds.), Calixarenes for Separation. A.C.S. Symposium Series No. 757. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 45–55], the extraction efficiency (distribution coefficients) of the calixarene ligand 1, increases by a factor of 2–10 after γ-irradiation on a significant range of absorbed doses.     

Extraction separation of Am(III) and Eu(III) using divalent quadridentate Schiff bases-bis-salicylaldehyde ethylenediamine

For the selective extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III), quadridentate divalent phenolic Schiff bases-bis-salicylaldehyde ethylenediamine (H₂salen) was investigated as a kind of extractant. The influences of alkaline cation, inorganic anion, ionic strength, pH and the concentration of H₂salen on the distribution ratio of Am(III) and Eu(III) were investigated in detail. As a result, Am(III) and Eu(III) made anionic 1:1 complexes with the ligand (H₂salen) and could be extracted into nitrobenzene as ion-pairs with a suitable monovalent counter anion in the aqueous solution, the extracted species were possibly of the type Am(H₂salen) Eu(salen)Cl and Eu(H₂salen)Cl₃, respectively. The extractability of Eu(III) was significantly stronger than that of Am(III) and the maximum separation factor, SF_(Am/Eu), was 96 at pH 4.0. The results indicated that H₂salen had good selectivity for Am(III) and Eu(III).     

Influence of complexing species on the extraction of trivalent actinides from lanthanides with CyMe<Subscript>4</Subscript>–BTBP: a theoretical study

We studied geometric and electronic structures as well as thermodynamic properties of complexes [M(CyMe₄–BTBP)₂(NO₃)]²⁺ and [M(CyMe₄–BTBP)₂]³⁺ with M?=?Am(III), Cm(III) and Ln(III) (La–Lu) theoretically. The actinide–nitrogen bonding is principally ionic with higher covalency in An–N bonds than in the Ln–N analogues. The selectivity towards An(III) over Ln(III) (La, Ce, Pr, Pm, Sm, Eu and Yb) is influenced by formed complexes to different extents by comparison of changes of Gibbs free energy of reaction, ΔΔG_Am/Ln, for formation of [AmL₂]³⁺/[LnL₂]³⁺, [AmL₂(NO₃)]²⁺/[LnL₂(NO₃)]²⁺, and [AmL₂(NO₃)]²⁺/[LnL₂]³⁺. The Am(III) selectivity is enhanced for [AmL₂(NO₃)]²⁺/[LnL₂]³⁺ over [AmL₂]³⁺/[LnL₂]³⁺.     

Separation of Am(III), Cm(III) and Eu(III) by electro-spun polystyrene-immobilized CyMe4-BTPhen

The synthesis of a novel 5-(4-vinylphenyl)-CyMe₄-BTPhen actinide selective ligand using selenium free synthetic procedures is reported. For the first time, we report the electrospinning of this actinide selective ligand into a polystyrene fiber and investigate its selective removal of Am(III) from Eu(III) and Am(III) from Cm(III). At 4?M HNO₃, the resulting fibrous solid extractant produced separation factors of SF_Am/Eu?≈?57 and a small, but significant separation of SF_Am/Cm?≈?2.9.     

Complexation of lanthanides, actinides and transition metal cations with a 6-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligand: implications for actinide(III)/lanthanide(III) partitioning

The quadridentate N-heterocyclic ligand 6-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)-2,2'?:?6',2'-terpyridine (CyMe(4)-hemi-BTBP) has been synthesized and its interactions with Am(III), U(VI), Ln(III) and some transition metal cations have been evaluated by X-ray crystallographic analysis, Am(III)/Eu(III) solvent extraction experiments, UV absorption spectrophotometry, NMR studies and ESI-MS. Structures of 1:1 complexes with Eu(III), Ce(III) and the linear uranyl (UO(2)(2+)) ion were obtained by X-ray crystallographic analysis, and they showed similar coordination behavior to related BTBP complexes. In methanol, the stability constants of the Ln(III) complexes are slightly lower than those of the analogous quadridentate bis-triazine BTBP ligands, while the stability constant for the Yb(III) complex is higher. (1)H NMR titrations and ESI-MS with lanthanide nitrates showed that the ligand forms only 1:1 complexes with Eu(III), Ce(III) and Yb(III), while both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were formed with La(III) and Y(III) in acetonitrile. A mixture of isomeric chiral 2:2 helical complexes was formed with Cu(I), with a slight preference (1.4:1) for a single directional isomer. In contrast, a 1:1 complex was observed with the larger Ag(I) ion. The ligand was unable to extract Am(III) or Eu(III) from nitric acid solutions into 1-octanol, except in the presence of a synergist at low acidity. The results show that the presence of two outer 1,2,4-triazine rings is required for the efficient extraction and separation of An(III) from Ln(III) by quadridentate N-donor ligands.     

New Ionic Liquid Based on the CMPO Pattern for the Sequential Extraction of U(VI), Am(III) and Eu(III)

Extraction of U(VI), Eu(III) and Am(III) has been performed from acidic aqueous solutions (HNO₃, HClO₄) into the ionic liquid [C₄mim][Tf₂N] in which a new extracting task-specific ionic liquid, based on the CMPO unit {namely 1-[3-[2-(octylphenylphosphoryl)acetamido]propyl]-3-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide, hereafter noted OctPh-CMPO-IL}, was dissolved at low concentration (0.01 mol·L^?1). EXAFS and UV–Vis spectroscopy measurements were performed to characterize the extracted species. The extraction of U(VI) is more efficient than the extraction of trivalent Am and Eu using this TSIL, for both acids and their concentration range. We obtained evidence that the metal ions are extracted as a solvate (UO₂(OctPh-CMPO-IL)₃) by a cation exchange mechanism. Nitrate or perchlorate ions do not play a direct role in the extraction by being part of the extracted complexes, but the replacement of nitric acid for perchloric acid entails a drop in the selectivity between U and Eu. However, our TSIL allows a sequential separation of U(VI) and Eu/Am(III) using the same HNO₃ concentration and same nature of the organic phase, just by changing the ligand concentration.     

Adamantylcalixarenes with CMPO groups at the wide rim: synthesis and extraction of lanthanides and actinides

Starting from p-adamantylcalix[4]- and [6]arenes functionalized with carboxylic acid or ester groups at the adamantane nuclei, carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO)-containing ligands of a novel type were synthesized. They were studied as extractants for a series of f-block elements including radioactive ¹⁵²Eu(III), ²⁴¹Am(III), ²³³U(VI), and ²³⁹Pu(IV). Tetrameric ligand 4b in which CMPO residues are connected to adamantane nuclei through methylene groups gave the best extraction results for lanthanides and actinides. For all the ligands the extraction efficiency does not decrease at higher nitric acid concentration. Although the discrimination between trivalent actinides and lanthanides is not good, all ligands are highly selective for thorium(IV) with the best separation factor achieved in the case of hexameric ligand 5 (D_Th/D_Ln>24).     

The interaction between trivalent 4f and 5f-block elements and thiocyanate ion

The formation constants of thiocyanate complexes of Eu(III) and Am(III) in trace concentrations were investigated in mixed solvent (CH₃OH+H₂O) solutions of different ionic strength. Furthermore, in paper electrophoresis, the moving velocities of the species of Eu(III) and Am(III) were investigated in 1.1M (H, Na)(SCN, ClO₄) mixed solvent (CH₃OH-H₂O) solutions. The results showed that the difference between the velocities of Eu(III) and Am(III) is explained by the difference of the mean charges calculated by the formation constants of thiocyanate complexes of Eu(III) and Am(III) in the solution.     

Radiolysis of the trichloromethane-water two-phase system

The radiolysis of the CHCl₃-water two-phase system in the absence of oxygen has been investigated by continuous -ray irradiation. The major products of radiolysis were determined to be the same, except for tetrachloromethane, as in the case of the radiolysis of pure CHCl₃, however, the radiolytical yields were different. The dependencies of gross radiation yields of the radiolysis products on the CHCl₃ volume fraction follow the two-phase rule of additivity. The partial yields of all products determined were calculated for both phases and revealed that the major products HCl and C₂H₂Cl₄ are formed in both phases. The other organic products are formed mainly in the organic phase. The decrease of organic product yields is probably caused by the presence of water in the organic phase. The radiolysis of CHCl₃-water did not proceed in the diffusional regime even at high absorbed doses due to the relatively high solubility of CHCl₃ in water andvice versa.     

Evaluation of radiation stability of N,N-didodecyl N′,N′-di-octyl diglycolamide: a promising reagent for actinide partitioning

The radiation stability of N,N-di-dodecyl-N′,N′-di-octyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (D³DODGA) was studied by γ-irradiation of the solvent up to a absorbed dose of 1,000 kGy. The effect of γ-irradiation on the radiolytic degradation of D³DODGA was assessed by measuring the distribution ratio of Am(III) (D _Am(III)) as well as the third phase formation in the irradiated D³DODGA-n-dodecane solution. The D _Am(III) in the irradiated solution decreased with increase of absorbed dose. The critical aqueous concentration of Nd(III) above which the third phase forms, increased with increase of absorbed dose. However, the limiting organic concentration of Nd(III) remained at ~25 mM irrespective of the absorbed dose. Recovery of Am(III) from the radiolytically degraded organic phase showed that back extraction of Am(III) was quantitative in a few contacts using dilute nitric acid. Our studies clearly indicated that radiolytic degradation of D³DODGA in n-dodecane is marginal even at the absorbed dose of 1,000 kGy, and therefore D³DODGA is a potential candidate for minor actinide partitioning.