Extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) from perchlorate media, by PC-88A

Extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) has been investigated from perchlorate media using 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A) dissolved in toluene. The extraction of U(VI), Zr(IV) and Th(IV) was found to be quantitative in the pH range 1.6 to 3.2, 2.0 to 4.7 and 2.3 to 3.8, respectively, with 3.0^.10^-3, 5.6^.10^-4 and 1.0^.10^-2M PC-88A dissolved in toluene. U(VI) was stripped with 4.0M HCl, Zr(IV) with 2.5M NaF and Th(IV) with 8.0M HCl from the metal loaded organic phase containing PC-88A dissolved in toluene. The probable extracted species have been ascertained by plotting log D vs. log [HR] as UO₂R₂ ^.2HR, ZrR₄ ^.2HR and ThR₄ ^.4HR, respectively. U(VI) was separated from Zr(IV) and Th(IV) and from other associated metals. This method was proved by the determination of U(VI) in some real samples.     

Liquid-liquid extraction separation of iron (III) with 2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic acid mono 2-ethyl hexyl ester

Liquid-liquid extraction separation of iron(III) with 2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic acid mono 2-ethyl hexyl ester (PC-88A) in toluene has been studied. Quantitative extraction of iron(III) with 5 x 10(-3) M PC-88A in toluene is observed in the pH range 0.75-2.5. From the extracted complex species in the organic phase iron(III) was stripped with 1-4 M HNO(3), 1.5-4 M H(2)SO(4) and 1.5-4 M HCl, and later determined spectrophotometrically by thiocyanate method. Separation of iron(III) was carried out with some of the first transition metals in binary and multicomponent mixtures. This method was extended for the determination of iron in real samples.     

Rapid Solvent Extraction of Tin(IV) with High Molecular Weight Amine from Hydrochloric Acid Solution

A novel method has been developed for the solvent extraction of tin(IV) from 8 M hydrochloric acid with 4% N‐n‐octylaniline. Tin(IV) from the organic phase was determined spectrophotometrically with pyrocatechol violet at 550 nm. Extraction was found to be quantitative in the range of 7–10 M hydrochloric acid. When the concentration of N‐n‐octylaniline was varied from 0.05–20% in xylene, it showed that optimum concentration was > 3%. Amongst diluents like benzene and xylene, toluene was found to be an effective diluent. Effect of shaking time, concentration of metal ion, and salting out agents was studied. Tolerance limits of various diverse ions were determined by masking interfering cations. Tin(IV) was separated from associated elements in its binary mixture with Se(IV), Sb(III), Bi(III), Pb(II), Au(III), Cu(II) and Zn(II) and from its ternary mixtures with Sb(III), Bi(III) and Cu(II), Au(III). The proposed method was applied for separation and determination of tin(IV) in tin bearing alloys and foodstuffs.     

Palladium(II) Extraction by Pyridinecarboxylic Acid Esters

The commercial extractant Acorga CLX-50 and model individual di-2-ethylhexyl pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate and 2-ethylhexyl pyridine-3-carboxylate in toluene were used for palladium(II) extraction from aqueous HCl solutions. The studies of extraction rate and equilibrium were carried out in systems containing palladium(II) ions in 3.0, 0.1, and 0.1M HCl in the presence of 0.5M sodium chloride and in 0.1M HCl in the presence of 0.1–6.0M lithium chloride and in 0.1M HCl in the presence 0.1–3.5M sodium nitrate. The examined extractants can efficiently extract palladium(II) from aqueous hydrochloric acid and nitrate solutions. The extraction is slow and equilibrium is obtained after 2 hours. The best extraction of palladium(II) is observed from 0.1M HCl solution in the presence of 3.5M sodium nitrate. A spontaneous transfer of palladium(II) to the toluene phase without any phase mixing is also observed.     

Use of isooctyl thioglycolate for the separation of tin and antimony

The extraction characteristics of isooctyl thioglycolate (IOTG), a chelating agent, in various diluents has been studied with respect to the metal ions, tin(IV) and antimony(III), in hydrochloric acid medium. It is concluded that antimony(III) can be separated from tin(IV) with 85% yield and with a decontamination factor of at least 1·10⁵ using IOTG diluted with petroleum ether and 3M HCl medium. Tin(IV) can be separated conveniently from antimony(III) in 2M HCl with 95% yield and with a decontamination factor greater than 7·10⁵ using IOTG diluted with carbon tetrachloride.     

In situ electro-oxidation and liquid-liquid extraction of cerium(IV) from nitric acid medium using tributyl phosphate and 2-ethylhexyl hydrogen 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate

The process of in situ electro-oxidation of Ce(III) to Ce(IV) followed by its extraction into the organic phase has been investigated for its applicability in the separation of Ce from nitrate medium. Solvent extraction of cerium from nitric acid after its electro-oxidation to fourth valency state was carried out using tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 2-ethylhexyl hydrogen 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (KSM-17, equivalent to PC-88A). The efficiency of the extractants at different aqueous phase nitric acid concentrations and different electrode potentials were determined. Various reducing agents such as hydroxylamine hydrochloride, sodium nitrite, ferrous sulphate as well as complexing agents like EDTA, oxalic acid etc, were studied as strippants for the back extraction of cerium from the loaded organic phase. The method developed for the extraction of cerium was further extended to the partitioning of cerium from Ce-Am mixture obtained during the KSM-17 based extraction chromatographic elemental fractionation of PUREX High Activity Waste (HAW) solutions. Recovery of Ce obtained in the extraction experiments by batch as well as by continuous flow organic phase was >95% with good radiochemical purity.     

Extraction of U(VI), Pu(IV), Am(III) and some fission products by 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester immobilized polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels

Cross-linked hydrogel matrices immobilized with 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (HA), were prepared to investigate their application in the recovery of radionuclide from acidic waste solutions. Gamma-radiation was used to produce HA immobilized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels (HA-gel). The hydrogels with different characteristics such as: degree of cross-linking (by varying radiation dose) and quantity of extractant immobilized (by starting with aqueous PVA solution containing different amounts of HA), were synthesised. These HA-gels were investigated for solid-liquid phase extraction of U(VI), Pu(IV), Am(III) and some fission products, under various experimental conditions. The concentration of HNO₃ in the aqueous phase was found to play an important role in the extraction of these radionuclei. Extraction of U(VI) was more favourable at lower concentration of HNO₃ (∼0.001 to 0.5M), while at higher concentrations (∼0.5 to 3M HNO₃), more than 90% of Pu(IV) present in the aqueous phase, could be extracted by the HA-gel. The extraction of Am(III) was also found predominant only at lower acidities (at pH∼2 and above). Under optimized conditions, maximum metal loading capacities obtained were 19±0.8 mg, 8±0.4 mg and 11±0.5 mg per gram of swollen HA-gel, for U(VI), Pu(IV) and Am(III), respectively. Under the experimental conditions, extractions of Cs(I) and Sr(II) were observed to be negligible. No leaching out of HA from the HA-gel particles was noted even after its repetitive use for the studied ten cycles of extraction and stripping experiments, as evident from its unchanged extraction efficiency.     

Analytical applications of a liquid anion-exchanger for the separation of uranium(IV) in malonate solution

Uranium was quantitatively extracted with 4% Amberlite LA-1 in xylene at pH 2.5-4.0 from 0.001 M malonic acid. It was stripped from the organic phase with 0.01 M sodium hydroxide and determined spectrophotometrically at 530 nm as its complex with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol. Of various liquid anion-exchangers tested, Amberlite LA-1 was found to be best. Uranium was separated from alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, thallium(I), iron(II), silver, arsenic(III) and tin(IV) by selective extraction, and from zinc, cadmium, nickel, copper(II), cobalt(II), chromium(III), aluminium, iron(III), lead, bismuth, antimony(III) and yttrium by selective stripping. The separation from scandium, zirconium, thorium and vanadium(V) was done by exploiting differences in the stability of chloro-complexes.     

Selective extraction of iron(III) from aqueous nitrate solution in the presence of cobalt(II), copper(II) and nickel(II) ions using bis(delta2-2-imidazolinyl)-5,5'-dioxime.

The feasibility of using bis(delta2-2-imidazolinyl)-5,5'-dioxime (H2L) for the selective extraction of iron(III) from aqueous solutions was investigated by employing an solvent-extraction technique. The extraction of iron(III) from an aqueous nitrate solution in the presence of metal ions, such as cobalt(II), copper(II) and nickel(II), was carried out using H2L in binary and multicomponent mixtures. Iron(III) extraction has been studied as a function of the pH, equilibrium time and extractant concentration. From the extracted complex species in the organic phase, iron(III) was stripped with 2 M HNO3, and later determined using atomic-absorption spectrometry. The extraction was found to significantly depend on the aqueous solution pH. The extraction of iron(III) with H2L increases with the pH value, reaching a maximum in the zone of pH 2.0, remaining constant between 2 and 3.5 and subsequently decreasing. The quantitative extraction of iron(III) with 5 x 10(-30 M H2L in toluene is observed at pH 2.0. H2L was found to react with iron(III) to form ligand complex having a composition of 1:2 (Fe:H2L).     

Tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate as an extractant for quadrivalent tin,with subsequent determination with pyrocatechol violet in alloy samples

The solvent extraction of tin(IV) from chloride media withtris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate is presented. Tin(IV) is extracted quantitatively from 2.75–3.20 mol dm^–3 hydrochloric acid using 6.38–6.91 mol dm^–3 tris(2-ethyl-hexyl)phosphate dissolved in toluene as an extractant. After back-extraction of tin(IV) with water from thetris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate phase, it is estimated spectrophotometrically following complexation with pyrocatechol violet. The recommended range for determination of tin(IV) is 10–100 g. The probable extracted species is SnCl₄·2TEHP. The method is applicable to the analysis of alloy samples with a detection limit of 0.4 g/ml (for 10 g of tin) and a relative standard deviation between 0.21–0.32%.     

Evaluation of unsymmetrical dithiodiglycolamide as novel extractant for application in selective separation of palladium(II) from aqueous solutions

A novel unsymmetrical multidentate ligand namely; N,N'-dimetyl-N,N'-didecyldithiodiglycolamide (DMD³TDGA) was synthesized and used as agent for the selective extraction of palladium(II) from hydrochloric acid solutions. A systematic investigation was carried out on the extraction of Pd(II) using DMD³TDGA. The quantitative extraction of Pd(II) with DMD³TDGA in n-dodecane is observed at ~4 M HCl. The main extracted species of Pd(II) is PdC_l2. DMD³TDGA and IR spectra of the extracted species were investigated. The extraction of palladium(II) from various concentrations of hydrochloric acid solutions in the presence of metal ions, such as Pt(IV), Rh(III), Cr(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), Nd(III), Zr(II), and Mn(II) was carried. DMD³TDGA showed very high selectivity and extractability for Pd(II). Quantitative back extraction of Pd(II) was obtained in single contact using thiourea solution. The results obtained indicated that, excellent separation of Pd(II) from the investigated metal ions can be achieved. Five successive cycles of extraction/back-extraction, indicating excellent stability and re-utilization of this new extractant can be used for selective separation of Pd(II) from other elements in hydrochloric acid medium.     

Extraction of gallium(III) by 1-{[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl}-1H-1,2,4-triazole from hydrochloric acid solutions

The extraction of gallium(III) with 1-{[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2- yl]methyl}-1H-1,2,4-triazole from hydrochloric acid solutions into toluene was studied. It was found that gallium( III) was efficiently extracted from 5–10 M solutions of HCl by the anion-exchange mechanism. The following metal extraction order was determined in the above aqueous phase acidity range: Ga(III) > In(III) > Al(III). The concentration constants and the thermodynamic parameters of the reaction of gallium(III) extraction from 6 M solutions of HCl at 25 °C were calculated.     

Preparation of high-purity thorium by solvent extraction with di-(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate

The extraction behavior of thorium(IV) by di-(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (DEHEHP, B) from nitric acid media has been investigated. The influence factors including the concentration of HNO₃, salting-out reagents, temperature, the concentration of metal ions and DEHEHP have been examined systematically. A possible extraction mechanism is proposed and the extracted species as Th(NO₃)₄·2B _(o) is confirmed by the slope analysis method. The extraction equilibrium constants (K _ex) and thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) were calculated under the present experimental conditions. DEHEHP shows a high selectivity of thorium(IV) over rare earths(III). Stripping study indicates that thorium can be completely stripped by distilled water from the Th-loaded DEHEHP. Furthermore, a solvent extraction process including six extraction stages, six scrubbing stages, and six stripping stages was designed for the preparation of highly pure thorium from thorium concentrate with DEHEHP as extractant in laboratory scale, and finally thorium product can be obtained with a purity of 99.999 % and a yield of 98 %.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Ce(IV)/Ce(III) Couple in N,N-Di(2-ethylhexyl)-n-butanamide (DEHBA), N,N-Di(2-ethylhexyl)-iso-butanamide (DEHiBA), and N,N-Di(2-ethylhexyl)-3,3-dimethyl Butanamide (DEHDMBA)

In this work we report on the electrochemical behavior of Ce(IV)/Ce(III) redox couple in pure N,N-dialkyl amides (N,N-DA), namely N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)-n-butanamide (DEHBA), N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)-iso-butanamide (DEHiBA), and N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)-3,3-dimethyl butanamide (DEHDMBA) equilibrated with nitric aqueous solutions as an entry to the direct electrochemical characterization of plutonium in these extractants. Ce(IV)/Ce(III) redox process was used as a model. Its potential (E_1/2≅1.02 V/SCE) is not affected by the temperature and the nature of the N,N-DA and this clearly indicates that the functionalities of these extractants produce the same relative effect on both +IV and +III oxidation states of the cerium cation. Linear variations of the current intensity of the reduction peak of Ce(IV) with the concentration of Ce(IV)/N,N-DAs/HNO₃(5 M) solutions were obtained from cyclic voltammograms recorded at 25 °C and 40 °C. Due to the poor definition of the voltammograms in DEHiBA and DEHDMBA, such characterization allows only the evaluation of the performances of the chemical extraction of Ce(IV) from aqueous nitric acid solution by the undiluted DEHBA. To our knowledge, the electrochemical behavior of Ce(IV)/Ce(III) in N,N-DAs was not previously studied and our findings will for sure open the door for further investigations in this field.     

Extraction equilibria of some transition metal ions by bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphinic acid

Measurements of dimerization constants (K(d,HR)) and distribution constants (K(D,HR)) of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphinic acid (PIA-8) in three kinds of organic diluents were carried out by a potentiometric two-phase titration technique at 298 +/- 0.1 K. Extraction of iron(III), zinc(II), copper(II), manganese(II), cadmium(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) by PIA-8 from 1.0 mol dm(-3) ammonium sulfate solution into heptane was investigated as a function of pH and extractant concentration. The data have been analyzed both graphically and numerically to determine the stoichiometry of extracted species and their extraction constants. The extracted metal species were found to be FeR(3) . 2HR for iron(III), ZnR(2) and ZnR(2) . 3HR for zinc(II), CuR(2) . HR and CuR(2) . 5HR for copper(II), MnR(2) . 2HR and MnR(2) . 3HR for manganese(II), CdR(2) . 3HR for cadmium(II), CoR(2) . HR and CoR(2) . 4HR for cobalt(II) and NiR(2) . 3HR and NiR(2) . 6HR for nickel(II), respectively.     

Liquid-liquid extraction and recovery of indium using Cyanex 923

The extraction of In(III) from HCl, H₂SO₄, and HNO₃ media using a 0.20 mol l⁻¹ Cyanex 923 solution in toluene is investigated. In(III) is quantitatively extracted over a fairly wide range of HCl molarity while from H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ media the extraction is quantitative at low acid concentration. The extracted metal ion has been recovered by stripping with 1.0 mol l⁻¹ H₂SO₄. The stoichiometry of the In(III): Cyanex 923 complex is observed to be 1:2. The extraction of In(III) is insignificantly changed in diluents namely toluene, n-hexane, kerosene (160-200 °C), cyclohexane, and xylene having more or less the same dielectric constants, whereas, it decreases with increasing polarity of diluents such as cyclohexanone and chloroform. The extractant is stable towards prolonged acid contact and there is a negligible loss in its extraction efficiency even after recycling for 20 times. The extraction behavior of some commonly associated metal ions namely V(IV), Ti(IV), Al(III), Cr(III), Fe(III), Ga(III), Sb(III), Tl(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Tl(I) has also been investigated. Based on the partition data the conditions have been identified for attaining some binary separations of In(III). These conditions are extended for the recovery of pure indium from zinc blend, zinc plating mud, and galena. The recovery of the metal ions is around 95% with purity approximately 99%.     

Recycling of Palladium and Selected Metal Ions from Simulated Spent Catalysis Waste Solution Using Novel Dithiodiglycolamides Derivatives

The present study focusing on design and evaluation of series of eight new structurally related dithiodiglycolamides (DTDGA) as a novel promising solvent extraction reagents. The influence of the nature of the alkyl chain on the distribution ratio of Pd(II) was investigated. Both N, N-di-hexyl-N′, N′-di-octyldithiodiglycolamide (DHDODTDGA) and N, N-di(2-ethylhexyl)-N′, N′-dioctyldithiodiglycolamide (DEHDODTDGA) were chosen and applied to perform the selective recovery and separation of Pd(II) from certain commonly associated elements such as Pt(IV), Rh(III), Fe(III), Cr(II), Mn(II), Zr(II), and Ni(II) contained in hydrochloric acid solutions using n-dodecane as diluent. A systematic investigation has been carried to understand the extraction behavior of Pd(II) using the synthesized extradant. The extraction equilibrium of Pd(II) was obtained within 3–4 min. The investigated extractants showed quantitative extraction of Pd(II) at ～ 4 M HCl. The main extracted species of Pd(II) at 3.5 M HCl is Pd.DTDGA and IR spectra of the extracted species have been also studied. The other investigated metals ions were found poorly extracted under the same extraction contortions. Quantitative back-extraction of Pd(II) in the organic phase was obtained in single contact using thiourea solution. The obtained results make the novel synthesized ligands a promising candidates for selective recovery and separation of Pd(II) from spent catalyst dissolver (SSCD) solution.

     

Synergic solvent extraction studies of gadolinium using a combination of the di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and three adductants into kerosine/chloroform

The equilibrium extraction behaviour of Gd(III) using a chloroform/kerosine solution containing di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP), either alone or combined with one of three adductants, 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (phen), alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl(2,2'-bipyridine) (bipy) or trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) is described. The enhancement of the extraction by addition of such neutral adductants is explained in terms of adduct formation of the metal chelate in the organic phase. Among the three synergistic mixtures, 1,10-phenanthroline is the most promising for the extraction of the last member of light lanthanoids, gadolinium. Gadolinium ions are found to be extracted in the absence of phen, bipy or TOPO; the species was M(HA(2))(3) but M(HA(2))(3))(phen)(2) was found when phen was added and M(HA(2))(3)(bipy), M(HA(2))(3)(bipy)(2) was found when bipy was added and M(HA(2))(3)(TOPO) was found when TOPO was added. The compositions of the extracted species are obtained from the slope analysis method. pH (1 2 ) values were also obtained. The stoichiometry, extraction constants and stability constants of these systems were determined. Synergistic extraction can be carried out at lower pH.     

Extraction of actinides and fission products by octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl-phosphine oxide from nitric acid media

Extraction of promethium(III), uranium(VI), plutonium(IV), americium(III), zirconium(IV), ruthenium(III), iron(III) and palladium(II) has been carried out with a mixture of octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) in dodecane. The effects of nitric acid, TBP and CMPO concentrations on the extraction of these metal ions have been studied. The nature of the species of the above metal ions extracted into the organic phase has been suggested.