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.     

Oxidation of Am(III) and stability of Am(IV) and Am(VI) in mineral acid solutions

The oxidation of americium in HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and HClO₄ solutions by a mixture of potassium persulfate with silver salt in the presence of potassium phosphotungstate has been investigated. The influence of acid and its concentration, of (NH₄)₂S₂O₃, K₁₀P₂W₁₇O₆₁ and silver salt on Am(III) oxidation rate, yield and stability of Am(IV) and Am(VI), has been studied. The complexation of Am(III), Am(IV) and Am(VI) with phosphotungstate ions has been investigated. It has been established that Am(III) and Am(IV) form ML₂ complexes and their apparent stability constants have been estimated. The oxidation mechanism is discussed. A method for preparing of Am(IV) in 0.1–6M HNO₃, O.1–3M H₂SO₄, 0.1–1M HClO₄ solutions is proposed. The oxidation of Am(III) to Am(IV) by KBrO₃ and K₂Cr₂O₇ in HNO₃, H₂SO₄, HClO₄ solutions in the presence of K₁₀P₂W₁₇O₆₁ has been investigated.     

Kinetics and mechanism of distribution of Am(III) and Eu(III) between thenoyltrifluoroacetone-triphenylarsine oxide mixture in chloroform and aqueous nitrate medium

The kinetics of distribution of Am(III) and Eu(III) between thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) and triphenylarsine oxide (Ph₃AsO) mixture in chloroform and aqueous nitrate medium has been investigated using a stirred Lewis cell at ionic strength of 0.1M. The effect of the concentration of HTTA, Ph₃AsO, H⁺ and NO ₃ ^– on the rate of distribution of Am(III) and Eu(III) was studied. The results were interpreted by reaction mechanisms where the rate-determining steps are the parallel reactions of Am(OH)²⁺ or Eu(OH)²⁺ with one HTTA molecule and one Ph₃AsO molecule in the aqueous medium. The values at 25 °C of the rate constantk _HLL (HL=HTTA andL=Ph₃AsO) are 1.6±0.3·10⁶M^–2·s^–1 and 2.3±±0.3·10⁸M^–2·s^–1 for Am(III) and Eu(III), respectively.     

Synergistic extraction of Ce(III), Eu(III) and Tm(III) with a mixture of picrolonic acid and benzo-15-crown-5 in chloroform

Summary The synergistic mixture comprising picrolonic acid (HPA) and benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) in chloroform has been used for the extraction of Ce(III), Eu(III) and Tm(III) as representatives of lanthanide(III) ions from pH 1-2 solutions having ionic strength of 0.1 mol^. dm^-3(K⁺/H⁺, Cl^-). The composition of the extracted species has been determined as M(PA)₃^. nB15C5 where M is Ce, Eu and Tm and n=1 or 2. The influence of various anions and cations on the extraction of these ions has also been studied and only oxalate, cyanide and tartrate have some deleterious effect. The extraction equilibrium constants have been evaluated and discussed.     

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.     

Solvent Extraction Separation of Iridium(III) from Rhodium(III) by N-n-Octylaniline

The use ofN-n-octylaniline for the extraction of iridium(III) from malonate media is studied at pH 8.5. Iridium(III) extracted in the organic phase was stripped with 2.0 M hydrochloric acid and was determined spectrophotometrically by the stannous chloride–hydrobromic acid method at 385 nm. The extraction system is studied as a function of the equilibration time, diluent, reagent concentration and diverse ions. Experimental data have been analyzed graphically to determine the stoichiometry of the extracted species. It was found that the extraction of iridium(III) proceeds by an anion exchange mechanism and transforms into the extracted species [RR"NH₂ ⁺Ir(C₃H₂O₄)₂ ^–]_org. The method is simple, rapid, and selective and has been devised for the sequential separation of iridium(III) from rhodium(III), not only from each other, but also from other accompanying Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Au(III), and base metals.     

Extraction studies of Am(III) and Eu(III) with a tris-bipyridyl macrobicyclic ligand

Complexation of Am(III) with a tris-bipyridine cryptand (L) has been carried out in a nonaqueous medium (CH₃CN–CHCl₃). Subsequently the complexation behaviour was investigated using the reverse extraction tracer technique with dinonyl naphthalenesulphonic acid (HD) in toluene as the organic phase and varying concentration of HCl (upto 2M) as the aqueous phase. Equilibrium is attained in the two-phase system at a rate dependent on the hydrogen ion concentration in the aqueous phase. Whereas it takes only a few minutes to attain the equilibrium state at pH 6.0, a phase contact period of 50 days was insufficient if the acidity is greater than 0.4M, presumably due to the slow dissociation of the cryptate formed. The large enhancement in the distribution ratio value in the synergistic system with 1M HCl as the aqueous phase under non-equilibrium conditions is employed for the analytical separation of Am(III) from Eu(III).     

Distribution behavior of U(VI), Am(III) and Eu(III) on diglycolamide based extraction chromatographic resin in perchloric acid medium

An attempt has been made in the present work to investigate the role of anion for the uptake of Am(III)/Eu(III)/U(VI) by extraction chromatography (EXC) resin incorporating tetra-n-octyl-3-oxapentanediamide, commonly referred to as tetra-octyl diglycolamide (TODGA). In contrast to the nitric acid, perchloric acid medium favors extraction of trivalent metal ions even at low acidity (pH 2) and is almost insensitive to the acidity up to 5 M. Exceptionally large distribution coefficients (10⁵–10⁶) in the wide range of perchlorate concentration (10^?2–5 M) is quite unusual and is by far the largest reported in the literature for Am(III)/Eu(III). Thermodynamic data suggests the possibility of inner sphere/cation exchange mechanism involving TODGA aggregates at higher acidity but outer sphere/cation exchange mechanism at low acidity for Eu(III). There is a possibility of employing TODGA based EXC resin for the remediation of liquid waste (contaminated with long lived transuranics like ^241/243Am and ²⁴⁵Cm) in the wide range of acidity.     

The extraction of uranium(VI), americium and europium by LIX 64 and by a mixture of LIX 64 and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide

The extraction of U(VI), Eu and Am by the aromatic main component (HA) of LIX 64N dissolved in toluene was studied at pH 3–9. The values of pH_1/2 for the extraction with 0.146 M HA are 4.0, 5.5 and 5.2, and the pH's of maximum extraction are 6.0, 6.8, and 7.0 for U(VI), Eu and Am, respectively. The stoichiometry of the extracted chelates determined by the slope analysis is UO₂A₂ and MA_3–nY_n (n=1,2) for Eu and Am, the ligand Y being probably the nitrate anion. The addition of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) enhances the extraction of U(VI) and especially of Eu at pH<6. An Eu chelate species solvated by 2 TOPO molecules is extracted at pH 4 by the mixture of HA+TOPO, whereas the species extracted at pH 6.5 is not solvated by TOPO.     

Studies on mixed ligand complexes of samarium(III), europium(III) and dysprosium(III) with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol and trioctylphosphine oxide

The extraction behavior of Sm(III), Eu(III) and Dy(III) with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol (HA) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) from aqueous NaClO₄ solutions in the pH range 4–9 at 0.1M ionic strength has been studied. The equilibrium concentrations of Sm and Dy were measured using their short-lived neutron activation products,¹⁵⁵Sm and^165mDy, respectively. In the case of Eu, the concentrations were assayed through the^152,154Eu radiotracer. The distribution ratios of these elements were determined as a function of pH, 1-nitroso-2-naphthol and TOPO concentrations. The extractions of Sm, Eu and Dy were found to be quantitative with MIBK solutions in the pH range 5.9–7.5, 5.6–7.5 and 5.8–7.5, respectively. Quantitative extraction of Eu was also obtained between pH 5.8 and 8.8 with chloroform solutions. The results show that these lanthanides (Ln) are extracted as LnA₃ chelates with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol alone, and in the presence of TOPO as LnA₃(TOPO) and LnA₃(TOPO)₂ adducts. The extraction constants and the adduct formation constants of these complexes have been calculated.     

Ionic liquid modified silica gel for the sorption of americium(III) and europium(III) from dilute nitric acid medium

The imidazolium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate moiety was chemically attached on silica gel by chemical modification. The resulting product ([SG-Im]⁺ [DEHP]^?) was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and elemental analysis. The sorption behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) on [SG-Im]⁺ [DEHP]^? was studied from dilute nitric acid medium for the separation of Am(III) and Eu(III) from aqueous waste. The effect of time, concentrations of nitric acid and europium in aqueous phase on the distribution coefficient (K _d) was studied. The study indicated the possibility of using modified silica for the separation of Eu(III) from Am(III) with high separation factors (>50 at 0.1 M HNO₃).     

The first 3-D supramolecular Mn(III) salen complex with 4,4-dicarboxy-2,2-bipyridine: structure and magnetic properties

The Mn(III) salen complex [Mn(salen)(H₂O)₂](dcbp)_0.5 · H₂O (dcbp = 4,4-dicarboxy-2,2-bipyridine, salen = N,N′-ethylenebis-salicylideneaminato) has been isolated under hydrothermal conditions and is structurally characterized. The complex is formed by three independent units, one [Mn(salen)(H₂O)₂], one H₂dcbp, and one guest water molecule, which are further interconnected by hydrogen-bond interactions to form a 3-D supramolecular architecture. IR spectra, UV-Vis spectra, and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility of the complex have been studied. The magnetic study indicated a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the [Mn(salen)(H₂O)₂] molecules.     

Americium(III) Adsorption on Polyethylene from very Dilute Aqueous Solutions

The Am(III) adsorption from very dilute aqueous solutions on polyethylene was studied as a function of the pH value, the composition of dissolved salts and the presence or absence of adsorbent SiO₂. It was found that the Am(III) adsorption on polyethylene is decreased with increasing H⁺ concentration and dissolved salt concentrations and in the presence of SiO₂ as an adsorbent. The mechanisms of Am(III) adsorption on polyethylene were discussed. Based on the observations in this paper, extreme care is necessary to minimize and correct the Am(III) adsorption on the container walls in order to improve the accuracy of Am(III) distribution coefficient (K _d) between a solid and an aqueous solution.     

Extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) with dialkyldi (or mono) thiophosphinic (or phosphoric) acids

Extraction of Am(III) and Ln(III) from NaClO₄ medium with di(2-ethylhexyl)dithiophosphoric acid (DEHDTP), di(2-ethylhexyl)monothiophosphoric acid (DEHMTP), di(2-ethylhexyl)monothiophosphinic acid (DEHMTPI), dihexyldithiophosphinic acid (DHXDTPI), diheptyldithiophosphinic acid (DHPDTPI), dioctyldithiophosphinic acids (DODTPI), dinonyldithiophosphinic acid (DNDTPI), di(1-methylheptyl)dithiophosphinic acid (DMHDTPI) and di(2-ethylhexyl)dithiophosphinic acid (DEHDTPI) in xylene has been investigated. The order of the extraction selectivity for Am(III) is DEHDTPI > DEHDTP > DEHMTPI > DEHMTP, DHPDTPI > DODTPI > DHXDTPI > DNDTPI, DMHDTPI > DEHDTPI > DODTPI, for extractants with 2-ethylhexyl alkyl, straight chain alkyl, branch chain alkyl, respectively. Using 0.1 mol/l NaClO₄ solution as aqueous phase, the slope values of the logD-pH and logD-logC curves are not integers, and the slope values for Am(III) are slightly higher than those for Eu(III), for all extractants. The relationship between the slope value and extraction conditions can be described as: logS = alg(C _HA/C _M ^S/4)+b. In the presence of macro Eu(ClO₄)₃, the formula, logSF _Am/Ln = B-2log(C _HL-D _Ln/(D _Ln + 1)C _Eu), can well describe the relationship between separation factor and the extraction condition. A high separation factor (SF _Am/Eu = 2500) is obtained by solvent extraction with 0.5 mol/1 DEHDTPI in toluene from 1 mol/l NaNO₃ solution.     

Adsorption behavior of Me2-CA-BTP/SiO2-P adsorbent toward MA(III) and Ln(III) in nitrate solution

A porous Me₂-CA-BTP/SiO₂-P adsorbent was prepared to separate MA(III) from Ln(III) in high level liquid waste (HLLW). The adsorption behavior of Me₂-CA-BTP/SiO₂-P toward ²⁴¹Am(III) and Ln(III) in 0.01 M HNO₃-NaNO₃ solution was studied. Me₂-CA-BTP/SiO₂-P showed high adsorption and selectivity toward ²⁴¹Am(III) over Ln(III) fission products with the separation factor (SF) reaching to 557, 2355, 1952, 1082, 214, 105, 86, 14 for Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Dy respectively in 0.01 M HNO₃-0.99 M NaNO₃ solution. The adsorption kinetics of both Dy(III) and Eu(III) on Me₂-CA-BTP/SiO₂-P was studied and followed pseudo-second-order rate equation indicating chemical sorption as the rate-limiting step of the adsorption, and the adsorption isotherm of Dy(III) and Eu(III) matched better with the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich isotherm with the adsorption amount around 0.22 and 0.20 mmol/g respectively. Thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption of both Dy(III) and Eu(III) on Me₂-CA-BTP/SiO₂-P was spontaneous and endothermic processes with a positive entropy at 298, 308, 313 K.     

Interaction of americium(III) with humic acid over wide pH region

Summary In the wide pH range of 4 to 10, distribution ratios of Am(III)-humate species to free Am(III) ions (D_AmHA = [Am(III)HA]/[Am(III)]_free) were determined at 10 ppm (4.7 ^. 10^-5 eq/dm³) of humic acid and 0.1M NaClO₄ by a cation-exchange equilibrium method under N₂ atmosphere. The D_AmHA was insensitive to an increase in pH (logD_AmHA ≈ 2.6-2.8), which indicates the formation of mixed hydroxo-humate complexes. The present D_AmHA value is larger than the estimated value from available stability constants for ternary complexations by spectroscopic analysis (1.4-2.1) and is markedly smaller than that of Eu(III) obtained by the dialysis method (3.7-8.0) reported in the literatures. The D_AmHA obtained in the present study is widely applicable to estimate the actinide(III) and lanthanide(III) sorption on minerals in the presence of humic and fulvic acids.     

Effect of specific adsorbed anions on the electrode kinetics of the V(III)/V(II) and Eu(III)/Eu(II) couples

Electrochemical kinetic parameters of the V(III)/V(II) and Eu(III)/Eu(II) couples in sulfuric, perchloric, hydrochloric, and hydrobromic acids were measured by potentiostatic and double pulse galvanostatic methods. The ₂ potentials in these solutions were calculated from electrocapillary measurements and the effect of the ₂ potentials on the electrode kinetics was discussed. The kinetic data after the Frumkin correction was applied show a very good agreement in H₂SO₄, HClO₄, and HCl solutions, if we assume that the non-complexed ion, which is partially supplied by the dissociation of complex ions, participates in the electrode reaction. The corrected rate constants in the bromide solution were about ten times larger than those to be expected from the ₂ potentials in the case of the V(III)/V(II) couple and a small acceleration effect was observed for the Eu(III)/Eu(II) couple. The greater reaction rate in the bromide solution is explained by the bridging effect.     

Solvent extraction studies of plutonium(IV) and americium(III) in room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) by di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP) as extractant

Solvent extraction of Pu(IV) and Am(III) from aqueous nitric acid into room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) by an acidic extractant HDEHP (di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid) was carried out. The D values indicated substantial extraction for Pu(IV) and poor extraction for Am(III) at 1M aqueous nitric acid concentration. However at lower aqueous nitric acid concentrations (pH 3), the Am(III) extraction was found to be quantitative. The least squares analysis of the extraction data for both the actinides ascertained the stoichiometry of the extracted species in the RTIL phase for Pu(IV) and Am(III) as [PuH(DEHP)₂]³⁺, AmH(DEHP)²⁺. From the D values at two temperatures, the thermodynamic parameters of the extraction reaction for Pu(IV) was calculated.     

Extraction of Am(III) from different acid media by di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid containing phosphorous pentoxide

The extraction of Am(III) from nitric, hydrochloric, oxalic, phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids was studied using 0.4F di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP) containing 0.1M phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅) in dodecane/xylene. The extraction with pure 0.4F HDEHP was found to be negligible from all the media studied. However, the presence of a small amount of P₂O₅ in it increased the extraction substantially. The distribution ratios of Am(III) obtained for HDEHP - P₂O₅ mixture 3M nitric acid containing different concentrations of oxalic acid/phosphoric acid/hydrofluoric acid are in the order of 200-250. The same for 3M hydrochloric acid is very high (800). These distribution ratios are sufficiently high for the quantitative extraction of Am(III) from all the acid media studied. Different reagents such as ammonium oxalate, sodium oxalate, oxalic acid, hydrofluoric acid, sodium carbonate and potassium sulphate were explored for the back extraction of Am(III) from 0.4F HDEHP + 0.1M P₂O₅ in dodecane/xylene. Of these, 0.35M ammonium oxalate and 1M sodium carbonate were found to be most suitable. The back extraction of Am(III) was also attempted with water and 1M H₂SO₄, HNO₃, HClO₄ and HCl solutions after allowing the extracted organics to degrade on its own. It was found that more than 90% of Am could be back extracted with these acids. Using this method more than 90% of Am(III) was recovered from nitric acid solutions containing calcium and fluoride ions.     

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.