Multiplier Effect on Separation of Am and Cm with Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Diamides

Mutual separation of trivalent lanthanides (Ln) and actinides (An) is a challenging study in order to dispose effectively these metals in high-level radioactive liquid waste. Both extractant and masking agent are used simultaneously in an extraction system. The strong extractants, diglycolamide (DGA) and dioxaoctane-diamide (DOODA), and several kinds of the masking agents, were employed. The four novel-synthesized aminopolyacetamide compounds, namely, nitrilotriacetamide (NTAamide), hydroxypropane-triacetamide (Citricamide), ethylenediamine-tetracetamide (EDTAamide), and diethylenetriamine-pentacetamide (DTPAamide), were also examined. It can be seen that these compounds has more affirmative to heavy Ln than light ones and mutual separation factors by addition of these compounds are slightly high.     

Comparison of the effect of alpha and gamma radiolysis on the extraction of americium by C5-BTBP in cyclohexanone

Solvent extraction is a separation technique suitable for the treatment of used nuclear fuel. Two immiscible phases are contacted and the metals of interest are extracted from one phase into the other, most often using so called extractants. One group of extractants is the bis(triazine)-bipyridine (BTBP) type molecules. These molecules have been developed within EU research programs for the separation of actinides from lanthanides. During such an extraction process, the components of the two phases will be exposed to ionizing radiation, since the used fuel contains many highly radioactive species. Radiolytic reactions can alter the chemistry of the extracting system, and affect the metal extraction by degradation of the extractant and the formation of degradation products. In this paper the effect of irradiation with alpha particles and gamma rays, respectively, has been studied for one of the BTBP type molecules, C5-BTBP.     

2,2′-Dipyridyl-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid diamides: Synthesis,complexation and extraction properties

New ligands for complexing of the post-transition metals – diamides of 2,2′-bipyridyl-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid were developed, synthesised and characterised. They were proposed to be effective extractants towards americium. The structures of the amides were studied in solid as well as in solution. The extraction of Am and lanthanides depending on diamide structure, chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide (CCD) – diamide ratio, type of diluent was studied. The optimal conditions for Am/REE separation were determined. The properties of new potentiometric sensors on the base of 2,2′-dipyridyl-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid diamides were studied. The correlation structure vs. properties of ionophores (i.e. extractants), their sensitivity and selectivity in sensor analysis and extraction are discussed.     

Synthesis of task-specific ionic liquids with grafted diglycolamide moiety. Complexation and stripping of lanthanides

Task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) of a novel class, with the diglycolamide moietity grafted in the alkyl chain of imidazolium cation, were synthesized and characterized. Lanthanide complexation capabilities of TSILs as active components of solid phase extractants were evaluated by studies on the adsorption of lanthanides from aqueous solutions. The TSIL-based solid adsorbents prepared by immobilization of long-alkyl-chain TSILs in siliceous mesostructured cellular foams adsorb trivalent lanthanides. No extraction of lanthanides from aqueous solution into 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C₆mim][Nf₂T]) was observed at any acidity in the presence of these TSILs in the aqueous phase. This implies that TSILs suppress the extraction of lanthanides by formation of water-soluble complexes. The TSILs added to solvent extraction systems consisting of N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentanediamide (TODGA) in [C₆mim][Nf₂T] and aqueous HNO₃ solutions show very good stripping properties for lanthanides.     

Separation factors of lanthanides extracted with dibutylphosphate

Extraction coefficients and separation factors of all lanthanides in the diluted aqueous HDBP—HNO₃ system were determined in the temperature range 10–50 °C. Essential differences were noticed between the results obtained for light (La—Gd) and heavy (Gd—Lu) lanthanides. It was found that the selectivity of the investigated system, in the case of heavy lanthanides, is as high as that observed for the best organophosphorous extractants: HEHϕP and HDEHP. The sequence of the separation factors shows the pattern of regularities (the double-double effect) within the whole series of lanthanides and within the whole investigated temperature range.     

Multiscale modeling of solvent extraction and the choice of reference state: Mesoscopic modeling as a bridge between nanoscale and chemical engineering

This article highlights current paradigms and challenges in modeling of lanthanides and actinides solvent extraction by lipophilic extractants. Within the multiscale approach, complex phenomena that occur in solvent systems can be rationalized at different length scales. Strengths and drawbacks of quantum and classical simulations, as well as mesoscopic modeling, are presented. In the multiscale modeling, the definition of standard states is of paramount importance because it dictates the amount of collective effects included within calculations. Mesoscopic modeling of the transfer and the aggregation free energies can be used to successfully predict properties of extraction systems at phenomenological scale and to assist chemical engineering of separation industry.     

Unprecedented Inversion of Selectivity and Extraordinary Difference in the Complexation of Trivalent f Elements by Diastereomers of a Methylated Diglycolamide

When considering f elements, solvent extraction is primarily used for the removal of lanthanides from ore and their recycling, as well as for the separation of actinides from used nuclear fuel. Understanding the complexation mechanism of metal ions with organic extractants, particularly the influence of their molecular structure on complex formation is of fundamental importance. Herein, we report an extraordinary (up to two orders of magnitude) change in the extraction efficiency of f elements with two diastereomers of dimethyl tetraoctyl diglycolamide (Me₂-TODGA), which only differ in the orientation of a single methyl group. Solvent extraction techniques, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements, and density functional theory (DFT) based ab initio calculations were used to understand their complex structures and to explain their complexation mechanism. We show that the huge differences observed in extraction selectivity results from a small change in the complexation of nitrate counter-ions caused by the different orientation of one methyl group in the backbone of the extractant. The obtained results give a significant new insight into metal–ligand complexation mechanisms, which will promote the development of more efficient separation techniques.     

Use of complex-forming agents for extraction separation of cerium group of rare-earth elements in systems with neutral organophosphorus extractants

The use of complexons: nitrilotriacetic (NTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic (DTPA) acids have been studied in extraction systems with main classes of neutral organo phosphorus extractants: phosphates (tributyl phosphate-TBP), phosphonate (diisooctylmethyl phosphonate-DiOMP) and phosphine oxides (triisoamylphosphineoxide-TiAPO) to separate lanthanides of the Ce subgroup. Optimal conditions to use complexon have been determined (extractant and salting agent concentrations). The effect of the type of extractant on the lanthanide distribution coefficients' dependence on pH of equilibrium water solution have been studied in the presence of NTA and DTPA. Unextractable cation displacers have been used to regulate distribution coefficients. The values of lanthanide separation coefficients of Ce group have been determined in extraction systems with neutral phosphorus-containing extraction agents — complexon — salting agent compared with Nd macroconcentrations and for lanthanide microconcentrations in the presence of cation displacer. These systems have been shown to be suitable for lanthanide separation of the cerium group.     

Towards understanding the correlation between UO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript> extraction and substitute groups in 2,9-diamide-1,10-phenanthroline

2,9-Diamide-1,10-phenanthroline (DAPhen) ligands represent a new family of tetradentate extractants given their strong affinity to actinides and the CHON principle. Among this family, N,N′-diethyl-N,N′-ditolyl-2,9-diamide-1,10-phenanthroline (Et-Tol-DAPhen), initially reported by us, exhibits excellent selectivity towards actinides (U, Th, Am, Pu) over lanthanides and thus can be potentially applied in the group actinide extraction (GANEX) process for the group separation of actinides. In this article, by tailoring the lengths of alkyl chains, we synthesized other four DAPhen ligands with different substitute groups in the diamide moieties, and characterized the relationship between properties and substitute groups of DAPhen ligand. The extraction results show that three of the ligands exhibit high performance in UO₂²⁺ extraction from an acidic solution and the extracted UO₂²⁺ can be easily stripped by only using ultrapure water. Spectrophotometry titration confirms that UO₂²⁺ combined with all the four ligands in 1:1 mode. The extended X-ray absorption finestructure (EXAFS) study shows that six donor atoms comprise the first equatorial shell of the UO₂²⁺ ions bonded by the DAPhen ligands, among which two nitrogen and two oxygen atoms are from the DAPhen ligand, while other two oxygen atoms are from one nitrate ions. This article promises to provide basic data for assessing the feasibility of this kind of DAPhen ligands applied in actinides separation from nuclear wastes.     

Liquid extraction of noble metal ions with bis(α-aminophosphonates)

Extraction of Au(III), Pt(IV), and Pd(II) ions from hydrochloric acid media with solutions of two bis(aminophosphonates), such as N,N-bis(dipentoxyphosphorylmethyl)octylamine and N,N′-bis[[(dioctyloxyphosphoryl)methyl]butylamine], in chloroform and xylene was investigated. Both these extractants proved to be highly effective for Au(III) ions in a wide acidity range, which allows these ions to be separated from other noble metal ions with a high degree of selectivity. At the same time, Pt(IV) and Pd(II) ions cannot be separated from one another with the extractants studied. The selectivity of their separation from Fe(III), Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) metal ions is, too, not high. The reasons for these results lie in the specific structural features of the extractants, which predetermine the extraction mechanism.     

Optimization Studies of An(III) and Ln(III) Extraction and Back-Extraction from a PUREX Raffinate by BisDGA Compounds

A family of compounds based on bis-diglycolamide (bisDGA) estructure has been recently developed to be applied for the trivalent actinides and lanthanides (An(III) and Ln(III)) co-extraction by means of DIAMEX process [1], [2]. It has been shown that these bisDGA compounds are efficient extractants of An(III) and Ln(III) regarding to extraction and loading capacity, as well as it has been proved their stability against hydrolysis and radiolysis [3]. For process development, it is necessary to study their selectivity towards An(III) and Ln(III) in the extraction and back-extraction steps in presence of the other elements, such as fission and activation products (FP and AP), in the high active raffinate (HAR) issued from the PUREX process.     

Comparative evaluation of two substituted diglycolamide extractants for ‘actinide partitioning’

Extraction behaviour of actinides, lanthanides, fission products and structural elements has been studied with the two diglycolamide extractants, namely N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-ethylhexyl diglycolamide (T2EHDGA) and N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA). The acid extraction studies suggested that T2EHDGA (K_H: 1.8) is less basic as compared to its linear homologue, TODGA (K_H: 4.1). The distribution ratio of Am(III) by 0.1 M diglycolamides followed the order: TODGA > T2EHDGA. The number of ligand molecules present in the stoichiometry of the extracted species of Am(III) was found to be three and four for T2EHDGA and TODGA, respectively. Thermodynamics studies suggested that the extraction of Am(III) by both the extractants is exothermic in nature. The radiolytic stability of TODGA and T2EHDGA solutions in n-dodecane has been investigated. Due to lower distribution ratio of Am by T2EHDGA, 0.2 M of its solution has been used as compared to 0.1 M solution of TODGA. The distribution behaviour of various metal ions, viz. Am, Nd, Fe, Mo, Cr, Sr and Cs has been studied from nitric acid as well as from simulated high level waste solution.     

Efficient separation between trivalent americium and lanthanides enabled by a phenanthroline-based polymeric organic framework

Separation of the minor actinides (Am and Cm) from lanthanides in high-level liquid wastes (HLLW) is one of the most challenging chemical separation tasks known owing to their chemical similarities and is highly significant in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants because it could practically lead to sustainable nuclear energy by closing the nuclear fuel cycle. The solid phase extraction is proposed to be a possible strategy but all reported sorbent materials severely suffer from limited stability and/or efficiency caused by the harsh conditions of high acidity coupled with intense irradiation. Herein, a phenanthroline-based polymeric organic framework (PhenTAPB-POF) was designed and tested for the separation of trivalent americium from lanthanides for the first time. Due to its fully conjugated structure, PhenTAPB-POF exhibits previously unachieved stability under the combined extreme conditions of strong acids and high irradiation field. The americium partitioning experiment indicates that PhenTAPB-POF possesses an ultrahigh adsorption selectivity towards Am(III) over lanthanides (e.g., SF_{Am(III)/Eu(III)} = 3326) in highly acidic simulated HLLW and relatively fast adsorption kinetics in both static and dynamic experiments. Am(III) can be almost quantitatively eluted from the PhenTAPB-POF packed-column using a concentrated nitric acid elution. The high stability and superior separation performance endow PhenTAPB-POF with the promising alternative for separating minor actinides over lanthanides from highly acidic HLLW streams.     

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).     

Characterization of hot particles in surface soil around the Chernobyl NPP

An ICP-AES method for the analysis of trace amounts of lanthanides and yttrium in sodium or magnesium diuranate samples (yellow cake) and other beneficiation product generated during the uranium extraction process (hydrometallurgy) from its ores is described. Most of the matrix elements are removed by an initial oxalate precipitation of lanthanides using calcium as carrier. A solvent extraction procedure using a mixture of mono 2-ethylhexyl dihydrogen phosphate (H₂MEHP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) is used for the removal of calcium, iron and the occluded uranium. A combination of oxalate precipitation and solvent extraction procedure is applied for the selective separation and preconcentration of traces of lanthanides from yellow cake and iron cake samples. The solvent extraction procedure is directly applied for the separation of lanthanides from the uranium leach liquor and lime cake. The accuracy of the method is checked by analyzing synthetic mixture containing known amounts of traces of lanthanides and also by comparing with another standard separation procedure like ion exchange method, and the recovery was better than 95%. The method is rapid, simple, accurate and suitable for the separation of lanthanides from uranium, iron and calcium rich materials. The precision of the method is characterized by an RSD of 2 to 4%.     

Separation of AM(III) by extraction from nitrate solutions using some quaternary benzylammonium salts

Benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate and benzyltrioctylammonium nitrate were used for the extraction of Am(III) from aqueous nitrate solutions. The dependence of the extraction performance for Am(III) on the concentration of nitric acid, the kind and concentration of salting-out agents in the aqueous phase, and the kind of solvent was investigated. Americium is extracted by the above quarternary salts as a R₄NAm(NO₃)₄ associate. The extraction of Am(III) is compared with the extraction of lanthanides. The high differences in the distribution coefficients for lanthanides and americium can be utilized for the separation of lanthanides and americium.     

Extraction of scandium ions by new aminophosphinyl extractants

Extraction of Sc(III) ions by new aminophosphinyl compounds containing one or two methylenediorganylphosphinyl groups at the nitrogen atom was studied with a target of the development of effective and selective extractants of trace elements. The selection of extractants was due to their high hydrolytic stability in the acid media, commonly used at the extraction of metal ions in the industrial hydrometallurgical processes. The study of extraction of hydrogen chloride and nitric acids with the selected aminophosphinyl compounds allowed a discovery of substances with the low basicity, which were characterized by the low coefficient of the acids extraction. Highly effective extractants of Sc(III) were found possessing high coefficients of extraction and high degree of selectivity in the separation of Sc(III) ion from the ions of satellite metals.     

Extraction behavior of lanthanides using a diglycolamide derivative TODGA in ionic liquids

Liquid-liquid extraction of lanthanides from aqueous solutions into ionic liquids (ILs) has been investigated using N,N,N',N'-tetra(n-octyl)diglycolamide (TODGA) as an extractant, and compared with that in the isooctane system. Application of ILs as the extracting phase provided unprecedented enhancement of the extraction performance of TODGA for lanthanides compared with that of the isooctane system. Slope analysis confirmed that TODGA in ILs formed a 1 : 3 complex with La(3+), Eu(3+), or Lu(3+). On the other hand, the molar ratios of species extracted into isooctane were 1 : 3 for La(3+) or 1 : 4 for Eu(3+) and Lu(3+), depending on the atomic number of the lanthanide. The transfer of lanthanides with TODGA into ILs proceeded via a cation-exchange mechanism, in contrast to ion pair extraction in the isooctane system. Furthermore, we clarified that TODGA provided selectivity for the middle lanthanides in the ILs systems, but heavier lanthanides in the isooctane system.     

Preconcentration of lanthanides from natural waters with a lipophilic crown ether carboxylic acid

Lipophilic crown ether carboxylic acids such as 2-(sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)stearic acid with a cavity size comparable to the ionic radius of rare-earth elements are selective chelation agents for preconcentration and separation of lanthanides from natural waters for NAA. Interfering matrix elements such as sodium and bromine can be simultaneously eliminated during the extraction. The lanthanides can be back-extracted into a dilute acid solution for NAA, thus providing a large preconcentration factor. This two-step extraction method appears suitable for the determination of lanthanides in natural waters and in biological samples.     

A Short Review of the Separation of Iridium and Rhodium from Hydrochloric Acid Solutions by Solvent Extraction

Iridium and rhodium are among the platinum group metals. The properties, production processes, and aqueous chemistry of both metals are reviewed. The separation of Ir(IV) and Rh(III) from hydrochloric acid solution is dependent on the characteristics of the solvent extraction systems. In most of the extraction conditions, Ir(IV) is selectively extracted over Rh(III) by either amines or neutral extractants. Rh(I) can be selectively extracted over Ir(III) by neutral extractants after Rh(III) is reduced in the presence of a reducing agent. The separation of these two metals using cationic extractants has also been reported. Although selective extraction of one metal over the other is possible, more efficient solvent extraction systems need to be developed.