Extraction separation of rare-earth elements by amines in the presence of complexing agents

The extraction separation of La and Sm by benzyldibutylamine (BDBA) from an aqueous solution containing 6 mol·dm^–3 NaNO₃ and 0.5 mol·dm^–3 HNO₃ is not very efficient. It may remarkably be improved by addition of a complexing agent, 2-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA). The effect of preferential La extraction into the organic phase together with the effect of preferential complexation of Sm in the aqueous phase may lead, by proper choice of the complexing agent concentration, to a 7–10 fold increase in _La/Sm values. The procedure described here enables fairly good separation of a major from minor elements.     

Bleeding evaluation of the stationary phase from a few novel macroporous silica-substrate polymeric materials used for radionuclide partitioning from HLLW in MAREC process

Summary To separate minor actinides from HLLW by extraction chromatography, a few novel silica-based di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP), 4,4¢,(5¢)-di(tert-butylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6 (DtBuCH18C6), octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO), and N,N,N¢,N¢-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (TODGA) polymeric adsorption materials (HDEHP/SiO₂-P, DtBuCH18C6/SiO₂-P, CMPO/SiO₂-P, and TODGA/SiO₂-P) were synthesized by impregnating HDEHP, DtBuCH18C6, CMPO, and TODGA into the pores of porous SiO₂-P particles, which were the new kind of inorganic/organic composites consisted of macroporous SiO₂ and copolymer. The bleeding behavior of these composites was investigated by examining the effect of contact time and HNO₃ concentration. It was found that in the tested HNO₃ concentration range, a noticeable quantity of DtBuCH18C6, at least 600 ppm, leaked out from DtBuCH18C6/SiO₂-P because of the protonation of DtBuCH18C6 with hydrogen ion, while the others were lower and basically equivalent to the solubility of HDEHP, CMPO, or TODGA in corresponding acidities solutions. Based on the batch experiment, the bleeding of CMPO/SiO₂-P and TODGA/SiO₂-P, the main adsorbents used in MAREC process for HLLW partitioning, was evaluated by column operation in 0.01M HNO₃ and 3M HNO₃. The quantity of CMPO leaked was ~48 ppm in 0.01M HNO₃ and ~37 ppm in 3.0M HNO₃. The bleeding of TODGA decreased from 23.2 ppm to 7.27 ppm at the initial stage and then basically kept constant. An actual bleeding of TODGA was evaluated by the separation of Sr(II) from a 2.0M HNO₃ solution containing 5.0 ^. 10^-3M of 6 typically simulated elements.     

Determination of plutonium in environmental samples by controlled valence in aniion exchange

The title method was successfully used for collecting^239,249Pu from 200 litres of seawater by coprecipitation with 16 g FeSO₄·7H₂O under redcing conditions witout filtering. The plutonium is leached by concentrate HNO₃+HCl from the coprecipitate and the solid particles. The precipitate is heated at 400°C and digested in aqua regia. Na₂SO₃ and NaNO₂ have been applied to obtain the Pu⁴⁺ valence state in 0.5–1N HNO₃ for different samples. Plutonium and thorium are coadsorbed on anionic resin from 8N HNO₃. The column is eluted with 8N HNO₃ containing fresh NaNO₂ to keep the Pu⁴⁺ state for uranium decontaination. The system of the column is changed from 8N HNO₃ to concentrated HCl with 50 ml concentrated HCl containing a few milligrams of NaNO₂. Furtheer decontaimination of torium was achieved by elution with concentrated HCl instead of 9N HCl. The plutonium is successfully stripped by H₂O, NaOH, 2N HNO₃ and 0.5N HNO₃ containign 0.01M NaNO₃. The chemica yield of plutonium for a 2001 seawate sample is 60–80%. The resolution of the electroplated thin source is very good.     

Use of organophosphorus extractants impregnated on silica gel for the extraction chromatographic separation of minor actinides from high level waste solutions

Silica-gel has been used as an inert support for the extraction chromatographic separation of actinides and lanthanides from HNO₃ and synthetic high level waste (HLW) solutions. Silica-gel was impregnated with tri-butyl phosphate (TBP), to yield STBP; 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid, mono 2-ethylhexyl ester (KSM-17, equivalent to PC-88A), SKSM; octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO), SCMPO; and trialkylphosphine oxide (Cyanex-923), SCYN and sorption of Pu(IV), Am(III) and Eu(III) from HNO₃ solutions was studied batchwise. Several parameters, like time of equilibration, HNO₃ and Pu(IV) concentrations were varied. The uptake of Pu(IV) from 3.0M HNO₃ followed the order SCMPO>SCYN>SKSM>STBP. With increasing HNO₃ concentration, D _Pu increased up to 3.0M of HNO₃ for STBP, SKSM and SCMPO and then decreased. In the case of Am and Eu with SCMPO, the D values initially increased between 0.5 to 1.0M of HNO₃, remained constant up to 5.0M and then slightly decreased at 7.5M. Also, the effects of NaNO₃, Nd(III) and U(VI) concentrations on the uptake of Am(III) from HNO₃ solutions were evaluated. With increasing NaNO₃ concentration up to 3.0M, D _Am remained almost constant while it was observed that it decreases drastically by adding Nd(III) or U(VI). The uptake of Pu and Am from synthetic pressurized heavy water reactor high level waste (PHWR-HLW) in presence of high concentrations of uranium and after depleting the uranium content, and finally extraction chromatographic column separation of Pu and Am from U-depleted synthetic PHWR-HLW have been carried out. Using SCMPO, high sorption of Pu, Am and U was obtained from the U-depleted HLW solution. These metal ions were subsequently eluted using various reagents. The sorption results of the metal ions on silica-gel impregnated with several phosphorus based extractants have been compared. The uptake of Am, Pu and rare earths by SCMPO has been compared with those where CMPO was sorbed on Chromosorb-102, Amberchrom CG-71 and styrene divinylbenzene copolymer immobilized in porous silica particles.     

Separation of uranium from thorium on cryptomelane-type hydrous manganese dioxide

The distribution of UO ₂ ²⁺ and Th⁴⁺ in nitric acid media on crypomelane-type hydrous manganese dioxide (CRYMO) has been investigated by batch equilibrations and column break-through techniques. The parameters studied involve the media composition and concentrations of HNO₃, NaNO₃, UO ₂ ²⁺ and Th⁴⁺. It is found that Th⁴⁺ is more strongly adsorbed on CRYMO than UO ₂ ²⁺ with sufficient differences for chromatographic separation from each other. Uranium was quantitatively eluted from a CRYMO column with 0.1M HNO₃. Th⁴⁺ has been recovered by using 1M HNO₃ as eluent.     

Extraction of thorium from aqueous nitric acid solution by bis-2-(butoxyethyl ether) (DBC)

The solvent extraction of thorium(IV) (4.3·10^–4M) from nitric acid solution by bis-2-(butoxyethyl ether) (butex or DBC) has been studied. It has been investigated as a function of nitric acid, extractant and metal ion concentration. The effect of equilibration time, diverse ions and salting-out agent on the extraction has also been examined. Among anions, fluoride, phosphate, oxalate and perchlorate have reduced the extraction. Cations such as Na(I), K(I), Ca(II), Zn(II), Al(III), Ti(IV), Zr(IV) except Sr(II) and Pb(II) do not interfere in the extraction. The extraction is enhanced upto 97% in three stages at 6M HNO₃ having 2.94M NaNO₃ as salting-out agent. The extraction is found to be independent of thorium concentration in the range studied (4.3·10^–4–4.3·10^–2M). The temperature (18–45°C) has an adverse effect on the extraction. A 1% solution of ammonium bifluoride is found to be a good stripping solution and recovery of thorium is >98%.     

Extraction chromatography for the separation of <Superscript>239</Superscript>Np from <Superscript>243</Superscript>Am

Summary An extraction chromatography method was developed for the separation of 239Np from ²⁴³Am in nitric acid solution. A sorbent based on aliphatic quaternary amine Aliquat-336 and hydrophobized silica gel was prepared. ²³⁹Np reduced to the oxidation state(IV) with ferrous sulfamate in 2M or 6M HNO₃ sorbs on the prepared silica gel column. After washing with 0.1M ferrous sulfamate in 2.5M HNO₃, ²³⁹Np is eluted with 0.1M HNO₃ containing 0.02M HF. The separation of ²⁴³Am from ²³⁹Np is very effective. The purity of ²³⁹Np was found to be better than 99.5%. The proposed ²³⁹Np milking procedure is suitable for the preparation of ²³⁹Np tracer that can be used for the determination of ²³⁷Np radiochemical yield.     

Variations in the gross alpha and beta activity in surface waters at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston (UK)

N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-ethylhexyldiglycolamide (T2EHDGA) has been used for the preferential extraction of ⁹⁰Y from its mixture with ⁹⁰Sr from HNO₃ as well as HCl medium. The separation efficiencies have been found out under varying experimental conditions. The extracted species were determined from T2EHDGA concentration variation experiments carried out at 3 M nitric acid as well as HCl and were found out to be Y(X₃)₃·3(TEHDGA)_(o) for both the extraction systems, where X = NO₃ ⁻ and Cl⁻, respectively. Comparison of the T2EHDGA and TODGA based separation methods is also made. In order to avoid third phase formation, iso-decanol has been used as the modifier in all the studies. The modifier content was optimized to 30% for 4 M HCl and 20% for 6 M HNO₃ as the feed aqueous phases. Separation schemes were developed for the separation of carrier free ⁹⁰Y and the purity was checked by the half-life measurement method.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) from aqueous acidic solutions using Alamine, TBP and CYANEX systems

Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) (UO₂ ²⁺) from aqueous acidic (HCl and HNO₃) solutions into a co-existing organic phase containing Alamine 308 (triisooctyl amine), TBP (tri-n-butyl phosphate) or CYANEX 302 (bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) monothiophosphinic acid) and diluent (toluene) was studied at isothermal conditions (298.2 K) at aqueous phase acidity varying in the range 0.5-6 mol/dm³. All solvent systems exhibit a maximum distribution ratio restricted in the acidity range 3-4 mol/dm³. An obvious difference in extraction behavior through amine system has been observed for two acids, HCl and HNO₃, distinguishing the divergent interactions attributed to the different mechanism of complexation depending on the acidic medium. The high degree of separation of UO₂ ²⁺ from HNO₃ solution is feasible through a complex formation with extractants ranging in the order CYANEX 302 > TBP > Alamine 308. The results were correlated using various versions of the mass action law, i.e., a chemodel approach and a modified version of the Langmuir equilibrium model comprising the formation of one or at least two U(VI)-extractant aggregated structures.     

Radiochemical separation of110mAg,210Pb,127Te and131I from aqueous nitric acid solution by bis-2-(butoxyethyl ether)

A bis-2-(butoxyethyl ether) (DBC) solvent extraction method has been developed for the radiochemical separation of^110mAg,²¹⁰Pb,¹²⁷Te and¹³¹I in varying concentrations of aqueous HNO₃. Various factors were examined to determine the optimum conditions of extraction. The effect of various masking agents has been studied. The extraction of¹³¹I is enhanced to 99% at 2.4M HNO₃ in the presence of KSCN.¹³¹I was stripped into aqueous sodium hydroxide from the oxygenated organic extractant. The method was then applied for the recovery of¹³¹I from neutron irradiated tellurium metal. The mechanism and reactivity of DBC with metal ions is described.     

Preparation and characterization of an extraction chromatography column for technetium separation based on Aliquat-336 and silica gel support

An extraction chromatographic material based on Aliquat-336 anchored on hydrophobized silica gel support was prepared as an ion exchanger. The prepared material appeared to be suitable for the separation of ⁹⁹Tc from environmental matrices in column application. The properties of the material, sorption characteristic and distribution coefficient of ^99mTcO₄ ^-in various media were studied. The prepared sorbent was conditioned by washing with nitric acid. The solution containing ^99mTcO₄ ^- in 0.1M HNO₃ was passed through the column. Tc was eluted from the column by 8M HNO₃. The flow rate was 0.4 ml/min. The chemical yield of technetium during the separation process was determined using ^99mTc tracer and gamma measurement. The sorption recovery of Tc from the prepared sorbent with 0.1M HNO₃ solution was more than 98%, and the desorption recovery from the column using 8M HNO₃ varied between 92-96%. It was found that the prepared sorbent is suitable for the separation of technetium from environmental matrices and radioactive wastes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Liquid — Liquid extraction of silver(I) by diphenyl-2-pyridylmethane in benzene from aqueous mineral acid — Thiocyanate solutions

Liquid — liquid extraction of Ag(I) by diphenyl-2-pyridylmethane (DPPM) in benzene from aqueous nitric and sulfuric acid solutions containing thiocyanate ions has been studied at ambient temperature (24±2 °C). The metal is extracted quantitatively from 0.01M HNO₃+0.02M KSCN; or 0.25M H₂SO₄+0.02M KSCN by 0.1M DPPM (optimum extraction conditions). Slope analysis indicates that two types of ion-pair complexes i.e. [(DPPMH)⁺·Ag(SCN) ₂ ^– ] and [(DPPMH) ₂ ⁺ ·Ag(SCN) ₃ ^2– ] are involved in the extraction process. Separation factors determined at optimum conditions reveal the separation of Ag(I) from Cs(I), Br(I), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Fe(III), Au(III) (from HNO₃ solution only), Cr(III), Hf(IV), Ta(V), Sn(IV) and Cr(VI). With the exception of thiosulfate, other complexing anions like ascorbate, acetate, citrate, oxalate do not hinder the extraction of Ag(I) under optimum conditions.     

Extraction of pertechnetate by triphenyltin chloride and trioctyltin chloride

The extraction of pertechnetate in form of ionogene associates with triphenyltin and trioctyltin cations into chloroform, benzene, toluene and nitrobenzene was studied. As aqucous phases solutions of^99mTcO ₄ ^? in deionized water and in diluted solutions of NaCl, HCl, NaNO₃, HNO₃ NaClO₄, HClO₄ and NaOH were used. Concerning the organic phases, at the use of triphenyltin chloride the extractibility of pertechnetate increases in the sequence: toluene «chloroform, benzene nitrobenzene and approximately in the sequence: NaOH<NaCl, HCl<NaNO₃<H₂O<NaClO₄ concerning aqueous phases. For trioctyltin chloride in chloroform the extractibility of TcO ₄ ^? increases approximately in the sequence of aqueous phases: NaOH<HCl, NaNO₃, NaClO₄, NaCl«H₂O and in nitobenzene in the sequence NaOH<NaClO₄<HCl<NaNO₃, NaCl«H₂O. The extractibility for trioctyltin chloride is in general slightly lower as compared with triphenyltin chloride. The results of the extraction are presented in the form of graphical plots of technetium distribution ratio (D _Te′ logD _Tc) or extraction yield (E _Tc, %) against concentration of the investigated component in aqueous or organic phase. In some of the systems of the systems studied practically quantitative extraction of pertechnetate into organic phase has been achieved.     

Cerium isotope partition in HNO3/TBP or HDEHP extraction systems

The^142/140Ce unit separation factors (q) for cerium(III)-cerium(IV) exchange reaction in an extraction system containing Ce(IV) in tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) or di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and Ce(III) in nitric acid were determined. The value of q was found to be 1.00054±0.00012 (2) in 6M HNO₃/TBP and 1.00078±0.00028 in 6M HNO₃/HDEHP extraction systems. The dehydration and complex formation processes and their contribution to reduced partition function ratios (RPFR's) are discussed.     

Influence of chloride and sediment matrix on the extractability of HgS (cinnabar and metacinnabar) by nitric acid

The extractability of metacinnabar and cinnabar, alone or in the presence of some sediment components, with various concentrations of HNO₃ (1, 4, 6, and 14 M) was studied. Both forms of HgS (0.2–0.3 mg HgS in 10–20 mL of acid) were insoluble in all HNO₃ concentrations as pure compounds. The presence of FeCl₃ enhanced solubility of both cinnabar and metacinnabar, especially when concentrated HNO₃ was used for the extraction. As the same effect was not obtained in the presence of FeOOH, we concluded that chloride and not Fe³⁺ was responsible for HgS dissolution. In fact, addition of very low chloride concentration to concentrated HNO₃ provoked partial (Cl>10^–4 M) or even total dissolution (Cl>10^–2 M) of HgS. In dilute HNO₃ (4–6 M) cinnabar was much less affected by chloride addition than metacinnabar. Extraction of HgS by concentrated HNO₃ in the presence of sediment of various salinities demonstrated that the amount of dissolved HgS increased with the increase of the sediment salinity (from freshwater to estuarine and marine sediment), confirming that chloride enhances dissolution of HgS. Removal of chloride by washing the sediment with Milli-Q water significantly reduced dissolution of added HgS during extraction by concentrated HNO₃. These results demonstrate that conclusions based on the extraction schemes using concentrated HNO₃ as single extractant or as the first extractant in the sequential extraction procedures can be biased. A verification of artifactual oxidation of HgS, when using more concentrated HNO₃ as extractant, would help to verify reliability of the applied extraction procedure.     

Americium and plutonium separation by extraction chromatography for determination by accelerator mass spectrometry

A simple method was developed to separate Pu and Am using single column extraction chromatography employing N,N,N′,N′-tetra-n-octyldiglycolamide (DGA) resin. Isotope dilution measurements of Am and Pu were performed using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and alpha spectrometry. For maximum adsorption Pu was stabilized in the tetra valent oxidation state in 8 M HNO₃ with 0.05 M NaNO₂ before loading the sample onto the resin. Am(III) was adsorbed also onto the resin from concentrated HNO₃, and desorbed with 0.1 M HCl while keeping the Pu adsorbed. The on-column reduction of Pu(IV) to Pu(III) with 0.02 M TiCl₃ facilitated the complete desorption of Pu. Interferences (e.g. Ca²⁺, Fe³⁺) were washed off from the resin bed with excess HNO₃. Using NdF_3, micro-precipitates of the separated isotopes were prepared for analysis by both AMS and alpha spectrometry. The recovery was 97.7 ± 5.3% and 95.5 ± 4.6% for ²⁴¹Am and ²⁴²Pu respectively in reagents without a matrix. The recoveries of the same isotopes were 99.1 ± 6.0 and 96.8 ± 5.3% respectively in garden soil. The robustness of the method was validated using certified reference materials (IAEA 384 and IAEA 385). The measurements agree with the certified values over a range of about 1–100 Bq kg⁻¹. The single column separation of Pu and Am saves reagents, separation time, and cost.     

Solvent extraction—atomic absorption determination of chromium(VI) in soils

The extraction of chromium(VI) from aqueous saline solutions (NaNO₃) using a trioctylamine solution in toluene was studied in order to determine chromium(VI) in soil samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. It was found that the quantitative recovery of chromium(VI) was attained after extraction with the 0.1 M extractant solution (pH 1.5) for 15 min followed by-back extraction with 4 M HNO₃. Chromium(III) was not extracted under these conditions     

Preconcentration and determination of rare-earth elements in iron-rich water samples by extraction chromatography and plasma source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

A 100-fold preconcentration procedure based on rare-earth elements (REEs) separation from water samples with an extraction chromatographic column has been developed. The separation of REEs from matrix elements (mainly Fe, alkaline and alkaline-earth elements) in water samples was performed loading the samples, previously acidified to pH 2.0 with HNO₃, in a 2 ml column preconditioned with 20 ml 0.01 M HNO₃. Subsequently, REEs were quantitatively eluted with 20 ml 7 M HNO₃. This solution was evaporated to dryness and the final residue was dissolved in 10 ml 2% HNO₃ containing 1 μg l⁻¹ of cesium used as internal standard. The solution was directly analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), using ultrasonic nebulization, obtaining quantification limits ranging from 0.05 to 0.10 ng l⁻¹. The proposed method has been applied to granitic waters running through fracture fillings coated by iron and manganese oxy-hydroxides in the area of the Ratones (Cáceres, Spain) old uranium mine.     

Determination of radiostrontium in environmental objects by extraction chromatography using tvex-DCH18C6

A new method for the rapid isolation of strontium radionuclides from environmental objects is described. The method is based on the selective extraction of strontium with a solution of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 in tetrachloroethane from nitric acid solution. The usage of this process in extraction chromatography permits to isolate strontium radionuclides with contamination coefficients not less than 10²–10³. A highly porous matrix of a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene is used as support. The method includes the following steps: nitric acid leaching of the sample calcined at 500–600°C with final adjustment to 1.5–2.0M HNO₃; elution of nitric acid extract through the extraction chromatographic column; washing of the column with 1.5–2.0M HNO₃; desorption of strontium with hot water, precipitation of strontium carbonate and measurement of -activity of the precipitate.     

Extraction of micro- and macroconcentrations of rare earth ions with the mixture of D2EHPA and TBP in n-hexane and cyclohexane

The synergistic solvent extraction of Eu(III) and some other rare earth elements from nitrate solutions (HNO₃+LiNO₃) by a mixture of (TBP+D2EHPA) in n-hexane and cyclohexane has been investigated at 22 °C. Antagonism found in europium extraction from 0.1M HNO₃ transforms into a synergistic effect. The synergistic effects existing for all investigated metals in extraction from 0.1M HNO₃+3M LiNO₃ were caused by formation of mixed complexes of the type Ln(D2EHPA)_2nH_2n–3+1(NO₃)₁TBP_m, where 1=1 or 2. The selectivity of the extraction in a synergistic system is lower for the La–Yb pair than in the case of D2EHPA extraction under the same conditions. On the other hand, the application of the synergistic mixture is more suitable for Eu–Ho separation. Thus the synergistic effect can be used for the separation or refining of some lanthanides.