Investigation of the complex formation of plutonium(VI) with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone by solvent extraction

The co-ordination of plutonyl ions with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) has been investigated by distribution studies of²³⁹Pu between benzene and aqueous perchlorate medium at 25°C in order to understand the nature of the extracted species and their stability. The formation constants of the first and second complexes have been evaluated by Rydberg's graphical method as well as by least squares analysis of the distribution data using a computer programme. The overall formation constant (β₂) for Pu(VI)-HTTA system has been found to be of the order of 10¹².