Narrow rim CMPO/adamantylcalix[4]arenes for the extraction of lanthanides and actinides

Six p-(1-adamantyl)calix[4]arenes 7, 8 with four differently attached diphenyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) functions at the narrow rim were synthesized. This series was extended by adamantylcalix[4]arenes with two CMPO and two ester, acid or (diethylphosphono)acetylamino groups. Structures of new compounds were proved by NMR, mass-spectrometry and a single-crystal X-ray analysis for the intermediate di-phthalimide 10₃. The extraction studies towards selected lanthanides and thorium showed that the ligands 7 surpassed the corresponding p-H, p-tert-butyl and p-tert-octyl analogues 3-5 in lanthanide extraction while thorium was extracted with the same or lesser extent. For the lanthanide extraction D_Ln(7₄)>D_Ln(7₃)≈D_Ln(7₂), which follows the order established earlier for ligands 3-5. Among the tetra-CMPO derivatives of type 8, the ligand 8_3/4 was the best extractant for which the D_Ln and D_Th values were comparable with those for 7₄.     

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.     

Sequential separation of actinides and lanthanides by extraction chromatography using a CMPO-TBP/XAD7 column

CMPO/TBP sorbed on Amberlite XAD7 resin was used for the separation of actinides and lanthanides from nitric acid solutions by extraction chromatography. The distribution ratios of actinides and lanthanide fission products (Ce, Eu) as a function of acid concentration and some complexing agents were determined. In strong HNO₃ medium (>1 mol/l) the tri-, tetra- and hexavalent actinides as well as the lanthanides have shown great affinity for the CMPO/TBP/XAD7 sorbent. The same behavior was found in HCl medium except for trivalent actinides and lanthanides which show lower distribution values in the same acid range. The effect of some complexing agents as DTPA and ammonium oxalate were also investigated. In DTPA only hexavalent actinides showed higher distribution value. On the basis of these differences, an alternative procedure for actinide-lanthanide separation and actinides from each other is proposed.     

CMPO-substituted calix[6]- and calix[8]arene extractants for the separation of An/Ln from radioactive waste

Three calix[6]arene derivatives (1a-c) and two calix[8]arene derivatives (2a,b), with six and eight CMPO residues, respectively, attached to the narrow/lower rim via ether links, were synthesised. Preliminary liquid-liquid extraction studies for Eu(III) and Am(III) from aqueous nitric acid to o-nitrophenylhexyl ether reveal remarkable properties with respect to efficiency and selectivity, especially for the tert-butylcalix[6]arene derivative with a -(CH₂)₃- spacer.     

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.     

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.     

Extraction and coordination behavior of diphenyl hydrogen phosphine oxide towards actinides

Extraction behavior of some selected actinides like U(VI), Th(IV), and Am(III) was investigated with three different H-phosphine oxides, viz. diphenyl hydrogen phosphine oxide (DPhPO), dihexyl hydrogen phosphine oxide (DHePO) and diphenyl phosphite (DPP). The H-phosphine oxides exhibited a dual nature towards the extraction of actinides where the ligand not only extracts the metals by cation exchange but also by coordination with the phosphoryl group at lower and higher acidic concentrations, respectively. Among all ligands employed, DPhPO showed highest extraction with actinides with a substituent dependent trend as follows: DPhPO > DHePO > DPP. This trend emphasizes the importance of substituents around the phosphine oxide towards their extraction of actinides. The coordination behavior of DPhPO was studied by investigating its corresponding complexes with Th(NO₃)₄ and UO₂(NO₃)₂. The metal complexes of these actinides were characterized using FT-IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopic techniques. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were also performed to understand the electronic and geometric structure of the ligand and the corresponding metal complexes.     

A CSD analysis on H-bond patterns from phosphoric triamides to their coordination compounds, new complexes with (tBuNH)3PO ligand (PO): Cl2Ph2Sn(PO)2 and Fe(PO)2(NO3)3

The phosphoryl donor ligand (^tBuNH)₃PO (PO) was used for preparation of new tin(IV), Cl₂Ph₂Sn(PO)₂ (1), and iron(III), Fe(PO)₂(NO₃)₃ (2), complexes. These complexes are the first examples of using a phosphoric triamide containing a secondary nitrogen atom, [RNH]₃P(O), for preparation of an organotin(IV) complex of the type ([RNH]₃P(O))₂X₂Ph₂Sn, X = halide, and an iron(III) complex. In 1, the Sn coordination geometry is octahedral with the pair of similar ligands in a trans orientation. The Fe center in 2 is seven-coordinated with the two phosphoramide ligands in a trans fashion, too. This article also reviews the structures of analogous complexes with phosphoric triamide ligands, deposited in the CSD, aiming to classify hydrogen bond patterns in this category of compounds. Moreover, it is tried to find a relationship between the H-bond patterns in complexes and the related free ligands.     

Lipophilic ternary complexes in liquid–liquid extraction of trivalent lanthanides

The formation of ternary complexes between lanthanide ions [Nd(III) or Eu(III)], octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO), and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) was probed by liquid–liquid extraction and spectroscopic techniques. Equilibrium modeling of data for the extraction of Nd(III) or Eu(III) from lactic acid media into n-dodecane solutions of CMPO and HDEHP indicates the predominant extracted species are of the type [Ln(AHA)₂(A)] and [Ln(CMPO)(AHA)₂(A)], where Ln?=?Nd or Eu and A represents the DEHP^? anion. FTIR (for both Eu and Nd) and visible spectrophotometry (in the case of Nd) indicate the formation of the [Ln(CMPO)(A)₃] complexes when CMPO is added to n-dodecane solutions of the LnA₃ compounds. Both techniques indicate a stronger propensity of CMPO to complex Nd(III) versus Eu(III).     

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.     

N-Tris[(2-aminoethyl)-2-(diphenylphosphoryl) acetamide)] — novel CMPO tripodand: synthesis,extraction studies and luminescent properties of lanthanide complexes

A ligand system containing three carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) moieties attached to a tripodal platform with a central nitrogen atom has been synthesized for metal complexation and extraction from neutral and nitric acid solutions. Liquid-liquid extractions performed for Ln(III), both from neutral and acidic media, show excellent extraction properties which exceeded those for the known mono- and di-CMPO derivatives as well as the related tripodands. A considerable enhancement of the D_Ln values was observed in the presence of IL ([bmim][Tf₂N]) in the organic phase towards lanthanide ions from 3M HNO₃ solutions. The protonation of the central amine nitrogen atom of the ligand 1 in the acidic media provides also the effective extraction of the perrhenate anionic complexes. The europium complexes formed by mono- and tris-CMPO ligands in the solid state, as well as Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes generated in solutions, possess intensive luminescence at 300K     

Extraction chromatographic method for the separation of actinides and lanthanides using EDHBA grafted AXAD-16 polymer

A new extraction chromatographic method has been developed by grafting chloromethylated polymer support with 4-ethoxy-N,N-dihexylbutanamide (EDHBA), for the selective extraction of U(VI), Th(IV), La(III) and Nd(III) from highly acidic matrices. The developed grafted polymer has been characterized using ¹³C-CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, FT-NIR spectroscopy and also by CHN elemental analysis. The water regaining capacity of the grafted polymer is studied by TGA measurements and the active participation of the amide moiety towards metal ion complexation has been confirmed by Far IR spectroscopy. For the quantitative extraction of metal ions to the resin phase, various physio-chemical parameters are optimized by both static and dynamic methods. The developed amide grafted polymeric matrix shows good distribution ratio values even at high acidities, with the maximum metal sorption capacity values being 0.36, 0.69, 0.32 and 0.42 mmol g⁻¹ for U(VI), Th(IV), La(III) and Nd(III), respectively, at 6 M HNO₃ medium. The kinetics of metal ion phase equilibration is found to be moderately fast, with t_1/2 values of <6 min, for all the analytes of interest. The limits of analyte quantification (LOQ) using the developed method are in the range of 15-30 μg L⁻¹. Moreover, the sequential separation of the sorbed actinides and lanthanides could be achieved by first eluting with 100 mL of distilled water (for actinides) followed by elution with 20 mL of 0.1 M EDTA (for lanthanides). The selectivity behavior and the practical applicability of the developed resin are tested using synthetic low level nuclear reprocessing mixtures and also with monazite sand. The analytical data are within 3.8% relative standard deviation, reflecting the reproducibility and reliability of the developed method.     

Self-assembly of extended Schiff base amino acetate skeletons, 2-{[(2Z)-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-butenylidene)]amino}phenylpropionate and 2-{[(E)-1-(2-hydroxyaryl)alkylidene]amino}phenylpropionate skeletons incorporating organotin(IV) moieties: Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,crystal structures,and in vitro cytotoxic activity

The organotin(IV) compounds, [Ph₃SnL¹H]_n · nCCl₄ (1), [Me₂SnL²(OH₂)] (2), [ⁿBu₂SnL²] (3), [Ph₂SnL²]_n (4), [Ph₃SnL²H]_n (5) and [Ph₃SnL³H]_n (7) (L¹ = 2-{[(2Z)-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-butenylidene)]amino}phenylpropionate and L²⁻³ = 2-{[(E)-1-(2-hydroxyaryl)alkylidene]amino}phenylpropionate), were synthesized by treating the appropriate organotin(IV) chloride(s) with the potassium salt of the ligand in a suitable solvent, while [ⁿBu₂SnL³(OH₂)] (6) was obtained by reacting the acid form of L³ (generated in situ) with ⁿBu₂SnO. These complexes have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, ESI-MS, IR and ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques in combination with elemental analyses. The crystal structures of 1 and 4–7 were determined. The crystal structures of complexes 1, 5 and 7 reveal that the complexes exist as polymeric chains in which the L-bridged Sn-atoms adopt a trans-R₃SnO₂ trigonal bipyramidal configuration with R groups in the equatorial positions and the axial locations occupied by a carboxylate oxygen from the carboxylate ligand and the alcoholic or phenolic oxygen of the next carboxylate ligand in the chain. The carboxylate ligands coordinate in the zwitterionic form with the alcoholic/phenolic proton moved to the nearby nitrogen atom. A polymeric zig-zag cis-bridged chain structure is observed for 4, without considering the weak Sn⋯O interaction, the Sn-atom having a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry with the two O atoms of the tridentate amino propionate ligand in axial positions. On the other hand, the structure of 6 reveals a monomeric molecule in which the Sn-atom has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry involving the tridentate carboxylate ligand, two n-butyl ligands occupying trans-positions and one water ligand. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of triphenyltin(IV) compounds, viz., 1, 5 and 7 against WIDR, M19 MEL, A498, IGROV, H226, MCF7 and EVSA-T human tumor cell lines are also reported.     

CMPO/[Cnmim][NTf2]体系对Eu3+和UO22+的萃取行为

讨论了辛基(苯基)-N,N-二异丁基胺甲酰基甲基氧化膦(CMPO)/1-烷基-3-甲基咪唑双(三氟甲烷磺酰)亚胺盐([C_nmim][NTf₂],n=2,8,12)萃取体系分别对硝酸溶液中的铕离子(Eu³⁺)和铀酰根离子(UO₂²⁺)的萃取行为。主要研究了硝酸浓度、接触时间、温度、CMPO浓度对CMPO/[C_nmim][NTf₂]体系萃取性能的影响,并选取CMPO/[C2mim][NTf₂]体系对模拟高放废液中的镧锕元素进行了萃取分离。结果表明:随着离子液体侧链长度增长,萃取平衡时间逐渐延长;CMPO/[C2mim][NTf₂]体系对Eu³⁺的萃取是放热反应,萃取率随酸度增加而逐渐降低,对UO₂²⁺则是吸热反应,萃取率随酸度增加而逐渐升高;通过机理研究,推测出对Eu³⁺的萃取反应是离子交换,而对UO₂²⁺的萃取反应则是中性配位;CMPO/[C2mim][NTf₂]体系能有效的萃取模拟高放废液中的镧系、锕系元素,且在高酸下有一定的镧锕分离效果。     

Extraction of actinides with heterocyclic dicarboxamides

Extraction of actinides from aqueous nitric acid by three different heterocyclic dicarboxamides (2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide, 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxamide and 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamides) was studied. It was shown that all studied ligands extract actinides at different oxidation states (U(VI), Np(V), Pu(IV), Am(III), Cm(III)) from acidic solutions. All studied diamides extract Am(III) better than Cm(III). Et(pHexPh)ClPhen contains electron-withdrawing chlorine atoms at the positions 4 and 7 of the phenanthroline moiety (SF_Am/Cm = 4–6) and possesses the highest separation factor Am(III)/Cm(III). The studied ligands possess high extraction ability to all actinides present in HLW and therefore they could be used for simultaneous extraction of actinides in the GANEX-type process.     

A novel Np–Pu separation procedure based on extraction with di-(chlorophenyl)-dithiophosphinic acid in nitric solution

The extraction behavior of Pu(III), Pu(IV), Np(IV) and Np(V) with di(chlorophenyl)-dithiophosphinic acid (DCPDTPA) in toluene from nitric acid solutions was studied systematically. In aqueous solution with high nitric acid concentration, the extraction capability (represented by distribution ratio D) for Pu and Np in different valences with DCPDTPA comes as D _Np(IV) > D _Pu(IV) > D _Np(V) > D _Pu(III). A new radiochemical procedure for Np/Pu separation based on DCPDTPA extraction was proposed and tested with simulated samples. The recoveries of Np and Pu are as high as 80 % after the whole separation procedure, with the decontamination factor of trivalent lanthanide fission product element (e.g. Eu) greater than 1.5 × 10⁴. The decontamination factor of Pu–Np is 2.0 × 10³, while the decontamination factor of Np–Pu is greater than 4.8 × 10³ after additional purification.     

Use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the study of Ln(III) complexation and extraction speciation with calixarene-CMPO in the fuel partitioning concept

The calixarene-bearing CMPO groups belong to a family of extracting agents recently developed for nuclear reprocessing. These molecules exhibit specific properties to separate actinides(III) from lanthanides(III) in nitric acid solution. Speciation of two distinct calixarene-CMPO (carbamoyl phosphine oxide), substituted either in the wide rim or in the narrow rim with lanthanides (La, Eu, Yb), was undertaken. The complexation behaviour in single phase or in liquid-liquid extraction was examined with two different electrospray spectrometer source geometries. The stoichiometries of the different complexes were reported and the selectivity of these calixarenes towards lanthanides was determined. The results obtained were concordant for the two spectrometers and confirm that electrospray mass spectrometry is a useful tool to study non-covalently bonded complexes.     

Influence of the N-[methylpyridyl]acetamide ligands on the photoluminescent properties of Eu(III)-perchlorate complexes

This work reports the synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic studies of Eu(III)-perchlorate complexes with amide ligands derived from N-[x-methylpyridyl]acetamide where x=3, 4 and 6. The Eu(ClO₄)₃3(x-mpa) complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance, TG analyses and vibrational spectroscopy. Raman and infrared data show that the perchlorate ion, (ClO₄ ⁻), is bonded to Eu(III) as a monodentate ligand and that in these three complexes water molecules are not coordinated to the rare earth ion. The profiles of the emission spectra of the complexes with 3- and 4-mpa ligands are very similar but they differ from the complex containing 6-mpa ligand. This spectroscopic behavior can be rationalized in terms of the Ω_λ (λ=2 and 4) and R₀₂ experimental intensity parameters. The values of Ω₂ (∼6.5×10⁻²⁰ cm²) in these complexes are smaller than in Eu(III)-TTA compounds (Ω₂∼35.0×10⁻²⁰ cm²), indicating that in the former case the rare earth ion is in a chemical environment less polarizable. Lifetime and emission quantum efficiency measurements for the emitting level ⁵D₀ were carried out and the results are discussed.     

Uptake of actinides and lanthanides from nitric acid by dihexyl-N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate adsorbed on chromosorb

Batchwise uptake of Am(III), Pm(III), Eu(III), U(VI) and Pu(IV) by dihexyl-N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphonate (CMP) adsorbed on chromosorb (CAC) at nitric acid concentrations between 0.01 to 6.0M has been studied. The difference between the uptake behavior of Pu(IV) as compared to other actinides and lanthanides is discussed. The Am(III) and U(VI) species taken up on CAC were found to be Am(NO₃)₃·3CMP and UO₂(NO₃)₂·2CMP, respectively. The equilibrium constants for the formation of these species have been evaluated and compared with those of similar species formed in liquid-liquid extraction. Batchwise loading of Pm(III) on CAC from 3.0M HNO₃ has also been studied.