THE EFFECT OF THE DILUENT ON THE EXTRACTION OF LANTHANIDE COMPLEXES OF MACROCYCLIC IONOPHORES

Solvent extraction studies have been carried out on aqueous complexes of La(Ill), Eu(III) and Lu(III) with macrocyclic ligands DAPDA (1,7-diaza-4,10,13-tri-oxacyclopentadecane-N,N’-diacetic acid) and DACDA (1, 10-diaza-4,7,13,16-tetraoxacyclooctadecane-N,N’-diacetic acid) using TTA (thenoyltrifluoroacetone) as the extractant in chloroform and nitrobenzene. EDDA (ethylenediamine-N,N’-diacetic acid), a non-cyclic polyaminopolycarboxylic acid, was also included for comparison purposes

These results, along with our earlier work in benzene medium, have been used to elucidate the nature of extracted species. It appears that nitrobenzene, a diluent of high dielectric constant, favors the extraction of ion pairs instead of the mixed complexes observed earlier using the relatively inert diluent, benzene.     

Modified Diglycolamides for the An(III) + Ln(III) Co-separation: Evaluation by Solvent Extraction and Time-Resolved Laser Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The use of two recently developed diglycolamide-based extractants for the co-separation of trivalent actinides (An(III)) and lanthanides (Ln(III)) is described and compared to the well-known extractant TODGA (N,N,N’,N’-tetraoctyl diglycolamide). The addition of one or two methyl groups to the central methylene carbon atoms of the TODGA molecule leads to a reduction of the extraction efficiency for An(III) and Ln(III). This is attributed to a lower complex formation constant, which was proven by Time-Resolved Laser Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS). Conditional stability constants were determined by solvent extraction and TRLFS. The reduction in extraction efficiency leads to overall reduced distribution ratios of all tested metal ions, including Sr(II). The reduced Sr(II) extraction is beneficial as a co-extraction in a solvent extraction process could be avoided, while an efficient extraction of the desired An(III) and Ln(III) is still achieved. Furthermore, this might be a benefit, as the stripping behavior might be improved, even at moderate nitric acid concentrations. The slightly higher affinity of the diglycolamides towards Eu(III) over Am(III) is represented by all ligands, although the selectivity is rather low. This results in promising extraction properties of the modified diglycolamides towards the development of continuous solvent extraction processes.     

SYNERGISTIC EXTRACTION OF LANTHANIDES(III) BY TRIOCTYLMETHYLAMMONIUM NITRATE AND TRIBUTYL PHOSPHATE

ABSTRACT

The synergistic action of tributyl phosphate in the extraction of La(III), Pr(III)Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III)and Y(III) with trioc-tylmethylammonium nitrate was studied. The synergistic effect is diluent dependent. It is pronounced with a mixed dodecane/xylene diluent, and is weak with mixed heptane/xylene and hexane/xylene diluents as well as with pure xylene diluent. Two or three synergistic complexes are formed simultaneously in the organic phase. Their composition is (A₊)(Ln(N0₃)) ₄),.2B~), (A₊))(Ln(N0₃))J.3B"), and (A₊)) ₂) (Ln(N0₃)) ₅).BJ-) (Ln is a lanthanide(IM), A+ is a trioc-tylmethylammonium cation and B is a tributyl phosphate molecule). The stability of the synergistic complexes generally decreases with increasing atomic number of the lanthanides(III). The synergism enhaces the efficiency of the lanthanide(III) extraction with trioctylmethylammonium nitrate, but deteriorates its selectivity. The separation factors for the Pr(III)-Nd(III) and Eu(III)-Gd(III) pairs are gradually suppressed at increasing concentration of tributyl phosphate.     

Extraction Behaviors of Trivalent Lanthanides from Nitrate Medium by Selected Substituted Malonamides

Abstract

The extraction of La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III) Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III) Tb(III), Dy(III), and Er(III) from nitrate medium by a series of structurally related malonamides (MA) diluted with toluene has been studied. The considered malonamides were synthesized with different substituting groups including alkyl, cyclohexyl, and oxyalkyl chains. This series allowed for a systematic determination of the effect of the structure on the extraction of trivalent lanthanides. Distribution ratios of the investigated metal ions have been determined as a function of nitric acid concentration, diluent type, extractant concentration and salting‐out agent as well as temperature. The stoichiometries of the extracted species of La(III), Sm(III), Tb(III), and Er(III) were conformed to be tri‐solvates. The extracted species were also studied using IR spectra.     

An Additional Insight into the Correlation between the Distribution Ratios and the Aqueous Acidity of the TODGA System

Abstract

Extraction of Eu(III) and Am(III) from HNO₃ into the organic solvents using N,N,N′,N′‐tetraoctyl‐diglycolamide (TODGA) was investigated in order to study the detailed extraction reaction. The chemical species: 1:2 for metal:TODGA complex is present in polar diluents. On the other hand, the metal complexes need three or more TODGA molecules to remain stable in non‐polar diluents. The HNO₃ concentration dependence on the distribution ratio suggests that HNO₃ participates in the metal extraction. Infrared spectra indicate that the carbonyl oxygen coordinates with Eu(III), and luminescence lifetimes suggest that there are no water molecules in the inner coordination sphere of the extracted Eu‐complex.     

Pyridinedicarboxylic Acid Diamides as Selective Ligands for Extraction and Separation of Trivalent Lanthanides and Actinides: DFT Study

This article presents a general approach to solving the urgent practical problem of separation of 4f-(lanthanides, Ln³⁺) and 5f-elements (actinides, An³⁺) very similar in properties based on the DFT quantum-chemical supercomputer simulation of Ln³⁺ and An³⁺ complexes with polydentate nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ligands. The method allows to calculate the geometry parameters of ligands and complexes and the metal to ligand binding energies with accuracy, permitting a direct comparison of calculation results with the experimental data, and estimate selectivity factors for separation of Eu³⁺/Am³⁺ model pair cations (SF_Am/Eu) in extraction experiments on a semi-quantitative level.

The applicability of the method and the approach demonstrated by DFT-modeling (nonempirical PBE functional, extended relativistic full-electron basis set) of a large series of diamides of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic (dipicolinic) acid (L) with different substituents at the amide nitrogen atoms and in the pyridine cycle, as well as their complexes [LM]³⁺, (H₂O)_nM(NO₃)₃ (n = 3, 4), and LM(NO₃)₃ (M = Eu, Am).

Based on the theoretical analysis a new model is proposed that describes the mechanism of Ln³⁺ and An³⁺ extraction in two-phase system highly acidic water solution-organic solvent, according to which the formation of An³⁺ and Ln³⁺ complexes occurs at the water/organic interface as a substitution reaction of hydroxonium ion in a cavity of a protonated ligand for the metal cation.

Calculation results confirm the experimentally established higher extraction ability of dipicolinic acid diamides containing one aryl and one alkyl substituent at the amide nitrogen atoms compared to the N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl diamides (“effect of anomalous aryl strengthening”). Based on the simulation results the structure of the modified ligand L suggested that it should ensure maximum An³⁺/Ln³separation selectivity in the series of dipicolinic acid diamides.     

Extraction Behavior of the Synergistic System 2,6‐ bis ‐(Benzoxazolyl)‐4‐ Dodecyloxylpyridine and 2‐Bromodecanoic Acid Using Am and Eu as Radioactive Tracers

Abstract

In this study, the extraction properties of a synergistic system consisting of 2,6‐bis‐(benzoxazolyl)‐4‐dodecyloxylpyridine (BODO) and 2‐bromodecanoic acid (HA) in tert‐butyl benzene (TBB) have been investigated as a function of ionic strength by varying the nitrate ion and perchlorate ion concentrations. The influence of the hydrogen ion concentration has also been investigated. Distribution ratios between 0.03–12 and 0.003–0.8 have been found for Am(III) and Eu(III), respectively, but there were no attempts to maximize these values. It has been shown that the distribution ratios decrease with increasing amounts of ClO₄ ^?, NO₃ ^?, and H⁺. The mechanisms, however, by which the decrease occurs, are different. In the case of increasing perchlorate ion concentration, the decrease in extraction is linear in a log–log plot of the distribution ratio vs. the ionic strength, while in the nitrate case the complexation between nitrate and Am or Eu increases at high nitrate ion concentrations and thereby decreases the distribution ratio in a non‐linear way. The decrease in extraction could be caused by changes in activity coefficients that can be explained with specific ion interaction theory (SIT); shielding of the metal ions, and by nitrate complexation with Am and Eu as competing mechanism at high ionic strengths. The separation factor between Am and Eu reaches a maximum at ～1 M nitrate ion concentration. Thereafter the values decrease with increasing nitrate ion concentrations.     

EXTRACTION OF COPPER(II) FROM ACID CHLORIDE SOLUTIONS BY N-DODECYL- AND N.N-DIHEXYLPYRIDINECARBOXAMIDES

ABSTRACT

N-dodecyl- and N,N-dihexylpyridinecarboxamides with amide group at 2, 3 or 4 position were synthesized. Model individual amides were used to recover copper(II) from chloride solutions at constant water activity and constant total concentration of dissolved species in aqueous solution. It was found, that pyridine-2-carboxamide forms with copper complexes (CuCl₂)_x (Ext)₂. Remaining amides form with copper complexes CuCl₂(Ext)₂. Monoalkylamides are not suitable for extraction because they and their complexes are slightly soluble in the hydrocarbon diluents. N,N-dialkylpyridinecarboxamides and their copper complexes are sufficiently soluble in the hydrocarbon phase to carry out extraction. However, they are strong extractants and extract efficiently copper already from dilute chloride solutions ([Cl] = 0.1 M). They extract also significant amounts of copper from concentrated (3-4M) nitrate solutions.     

Synergistic Extraction Studies Using n-Octyl(Phenyl) N,N-Diisobutylcarbamoyl-Methylphosphine Oxide

Abstract

The effectiveness of n-octyl(phenyl)-N,N′-diisobutylcarbamoyl-methylphosphine oxide, CMPO, as a neutral extractant for the trivalent actinides and lanthanides from strong acid media has been well established. This investigation characterized the use of CMPO as a synergistic agent in the extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) by thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA). The distributions of the metal ions were measured using radiotracer techniques as functions of HTTA concentration, CMPO concentration and pH. The results show that the presence of CMPO enhances the extraction of Eu(III) and Am(III) by 10⁸. The synergistic adduct was M(TTA)₃·CMPO with no indication of higher complexes being formed. Unlike previous studies, the extraction of Eu(III) was more strongly enhanced than that of Am(III). The results showed little, if any, enhancement in the extraction efficiency due to the bidentate nature of the CMPO.     

AN EXTRACTION STUDY OF LANTHANIDE NITRATO COMPLEXES THE ADOGEN-464NO3- NH4NO3SYSTEM.

ABSTRACT

Extraction of lanthanides and yttrium was studied in the interval of ammonium nitrate concentrations from 1 to 10M, and of Adogen-464 nitrate concentrations from 0·00039 to 0·39M. From the aqueous phase separation factor and from the published stability constant for Eu, stability constants for 1:1 complexes of La, Nd, Gd, Ho, Tm, Lu and Y have been determined, at 1M ammonium nitrate concentration. It was found that stability constant decreases from 2·7 for La to 2·3 for Lu. It has been shown that in the interval of Adogen-464 nitrate concentrations employed, lanthanides from La to Nd appear in the organic phase as 1:5 complexes, whereas lanthanides heavier than Nd appear also as 1:4 complexes. Relative values (with regard to lanthanum) of Gibbs energy, enthalpy (from the temperature effect) and entropy for formation of 1:5 complexes,and the position of yttrium within lanthanides have been determined. It is concluded from the experimental data that the extracted 1:4 and 1:5 complexes are of the inner sphere type, with nitrate ions acting as bidentate ligands, and that the contribution from covalency to bonding is the same in the aquo ion and in the 1:5 nitrato complex.     

EXTRACTION BY N,N'-TETRAALKYLMALONAMIDES II.

Suitable N.N'-tetraalkylmalonamldes for Am(III) extraction from concentrated HNO₃ aqueous liquors have been selected. Extraction mechanisms of Eu(III) and Am(III) by NN'-dlmethyldioctylmalonamide (DMDOMA) have been investigated. The distributions ratios of Am(III) and Eu(III) between 1M DMDOMA in t-butylbenzene and per chloric acid are higher than those obtained In nitrate media. Extraction data for Pu)IV), U(VI), Fe(III), Zr(IV) are reported. From these results It can be concluded that the NN'-dlmethyldlal-kylmalonamldes are good extractants for the actinides contained in the radioactive wastes.     

Extraction of Trivalent Europium and Americium from Nitric Acid Solution with Bisdiglycolamides

Two bisdiglycolamides (BisDGAs) of N,N,N′′′,N′′′-tetrabutyl-N?,N′′-ethidene bisdiglycolamide (TBE-BisDGA) and N,N,N′′′,N′′′-tetrabutyl-N?,N′′-m-xylylene bisdiglycolamide (TBX-BisDGA) were synthesized. Their extraction behaviors of Eu(III) and Am(III), as well as nitric acid were investigated from nitric acid medium by using n-octanol as diluent. Nitric acid is extracted as the form of HNO₃·(BisDGAs)_0.6 by BisDGAs and the conditional acid uptake constants of TBE-BisDGA and TBX-BisDGA were 0.26 and 0.10, respectively. The distribution ratios of Eu(III) and Am(III) increased with the increase of nitric acid and extractant concentration, whilst decreased with temperature rise. TBX-BisDGA had a stronger extraction power for Eu(III) and Am(III) than TBE-BisDGA. Both of the extractants displayed a higher affinity toward Eu(III) than Am(III). In the examination of the acidity range from 0.5 to 5.0 M, a maximum separation factor SF_{Eu(III)/Am(III)} can reach 8.0 at 3.0 M HNO₃ for TBX-BisDGA; and 10 at 4.0 M HNO₃ for TBE-BisDGA, respectively. Slope analyses showed that Eu(III) and Am(III) are extracted as di-solvated species by TBX-BisDGA or TBE-BisDGA. The extraction mechanism was described and the apparent extraction equilibrium constant as well as Gibbs free energy change, enthalpy change and entropy change were presented. In addition, their Eu(III) complexes were analyzed by using infrared spectra.     

Factors Affecting on the Sorption/Desorption of Eu (III) using Activated Carbon

Abstract

The sorption and desorption of Eu (III) on H‐APC activated carbon using a batch technique has been studied as a function of carbon type, shaking time, initial pH solution, temperature, particle size of carbon, and concentration of the adsorbent and the adsorbate. The influence of different anions and cations on adsorption has been examined. The experimental data have been analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin sorption isotherm models and the adsorption data for Eu (III) onto activated carbon were better correlated to the Temkin isotherm and the maximum absorption capacities obtained was 46.5 mg g^?1. Anions of phosphate, carbonate, oxalate, and acetate were found to increase the adsorption of Eu (III), whereas nitrate, chloride and all studied cations, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminum have a negative effect on the adsorption capacity. More than 99% europium adsorbed on H‐APC eluted with 0.5 M HCl solution. The activated carbon prepared from apricot stone using 70% H₃PO₄ could be considered as an adsorbent that has a commercial potential for Eu (III) treatment.     

Comparison of Partition Chromatographic Parameters of Lipophilic Organic Electrolytes for Solvents of Various Donor-Acceptor Properties. VI. 4-Pyridyl Alkyl Ketones and 4-Pyridyl Alkyl Alcohols in Aqueous and Formamide Systems

Abstract

R_M -solvent spectra have been determined for two homologous series of solutes: 4-pyridyl alkyl ketones and 4-pyridyl alkyl alcohols. The substitution of the carbonyl group by the secondary hydroxyl group had little effect on the extraction strength of the solvents of class N and A; however, for electron donor solvents a marked increase of extraction was observed, the shift of the position of solvents in the spectra being approximately constant for aqueous systems. Scales of extraction strengths for various reference compounds have been compared.     

Solvent Water Content as a Factor in the Design of Metal Ion Extraction Systems Employing Ionic Liquids

In the extraction of strontium nitrate from aqueous nitric acid solutions into a series of hydrophobic N-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-N’-alkylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imides by dicyclohexano-18-crown-6, a correlation has been demonstrated between the conditional extraction constant of strontium (K’_ex,Sr) and the concentration of water in the equilibrated ionic liquid (IL) phase. Despite the absence of a hydroxyl group on the IL cation, essentially the same relationship is observed for the analogous N,N’-dialkylimidazolium ILs. In both instances, the correlation is attributed to the coextraction of the hydrated nitrate ion and its solvation by the hydrated diluent. Transitions of water in the attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectra of the ILs are consistent with the existence of multiple states of water. The extraction efficiency for a given water content is greater for the ILs examined than for conventional solvents (i.e., n-alcohols). When coupled with existing knowledge of the factors influencing cation partitioning into ILs, these results provide insight into the IL structural characteristics required to effect efficient metal ion extraction from acidic media.     

EXTRACTION OF CESIUM NITRATE FROM CONCENTRATED SODIUM NITRATE SOLUTIONS WITH 21-CROWN-7 ETHERS: SELECnVITY AND EQUILIBRIUM MODELING

ABSTRACT

The extraction of cesium nitrate from a high concentration of sodium nitrate by a family of 21-crown-7 ethers in 1,2-dichloroethane has been investigated. Dibenzo-21-crown-7 (DB21C7) and bis[4(5),4′(5′)-rm-butylbenzo]-21-crown-7 (BtBB21C7) ethers have higher selectivity for cesium but lower extraction efficiency than dicyclohexano-21-crown-7 (DC21C7) ether. As measured by the distribution coefficient ratio D_cs/D_Na, the cesium selectivity averaged 78 and 93 for DB21C7 and BtBB21C7, respectively. However, in the case of DC21C7, the cesium selectivity was lower and decreased approximately three-fold from 10 to 3 as cesiüm loading increased. Alkyl substitution on the benzo group has only a small effect on the extraction behavior. It was shown by use of the equilibrium modeling program SXLSQI that the extraction of sodium and cesium could be adequately modeled by augmenting the previously determined cesium nitrate equilibrium model with a 1:1 Na⁺:crown organic-phase complex. No evidence for a mixed-metal species was found. In accord with our previous study, cesium nitrate extraction entails formation of a 1:1 Cs⁺:crown complex, but a minor 1:2 complex also forms in the case of DC21C7. Although the sodium and cesium made possible by the U. S. Department of Energy Postgraduate Research Program administered by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities.     

A MECHANISM FOR ENHANCING IONIC ACCESSIBILITY INTO SELECTIVE ION EXCHANGE RESINS

ABSTRACT

A bifunctional monophosphonic/sulfonic acid ion exchange resin with high capacity has been synthesized. Metal ion studies have been carried out with europium, americium, and ferric nitrate in solutions of varying acidity, with and without sodium nitrate added. The bifunctional resin complexes far higher levels of Eu(III) from 0.5 and 1 N nitric acid than the monofunctional phosphonic acid resin. It is postulated that the sulfonic acid ligand provides an access mechanism for the metal ions into the polymer matrix by hydrating the matrix and preventing its collapse in high ionic strength solutions thus allowing for rapid ionic complexation by the selective phosphonic acid ligands. The bifunctional monophosphonic/sulfonic acid resin has both ligands bound to a polystyrene support. It complexes higher levels of metal ions than a comparable resin differing only by having the monophosphonic acid ligand directly bound to the C-C backbone. Results are compared to a diphosphonic / sulfonic acid resin.     

Palladium Isolation and Purification from Nitrate Media: Efficient Process Based on Malonamides

ABSTRACT

Solvents based on malonamides have been described to be very efficient and selective for liquid-liquid extraction of Pd(II) from nitrate media. The present study details the possibility to selectively extract Pd(II) over common metallic cations, Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Nd(III), Fe(III) and Al(III) using N,N’-dimethyl,N,N’-dibutyltetradecylmalonamide (DMDBTDMA) in toluene. The lowest selectivity was obtained considering Fe(III) and Nd(III), the extraction of all other cations being negligible. Pd(II) distribution and selectivity regarding Fe(III) have been fine-tuned using the aqueous HNO₃ concentration as the sole parameter, so that extraction, scrubbing and stripping steps can be simply designed without the need for other specific metal chelating reagents and/or aqueous media and without the extensive generation of aqueous effluents. DMDBTDMA was also benchmarked with other classical Pd(II) extractants such as tributylphosphate (TBP), dihexylsulfide (DHS), tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfoxide (BESO) in toluene and in n-heptane. Overall, this study reveals that malonamides are very well positioned and should be considered for further processing of aqueous nitrate wastes containing Pd contaminated with common base metals.     

New Bitopic Ligands for the Group Actinide Separation by Solvent Extraction

Abstract

The synthesis and evaluation of solvent extraction performance of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl-6,6″-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine)diamides and N,N′-diethyl-N,N′-diphenyl-6,6″-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine)diamide are reported here. These new bitopic ligands were found to extract actinides in different oxidation states (U(VI), Np(V and VI), Pu(IV), Am(III), and Cm(III)) from 3 M nitric acid. The presence of three soft nitrogen donors led to the selective extraction of actinides(III) over lanthanides(III) (Ce, Eu) and the presence of two amide functional groups grafted to the terpyridine unit allowed the extraction to occur from a highly acidic medium by minimizing the basicity of the ligand. Ligands bearing long alkyl chains (C4 and C8) or phenyl groups showed increased performances in a polar diluent like nitrobenzene.     

EXTRACTIVE PROPERTIES TOWARDS RARE-EARTH METAL IONS OF CALIX[ 4] ARENES SUBSTITUTED AT THE NARROW RIM BY PHOSPHORYL AND AMIDE GROUPS

ABSTRACT

The extractive properties of the cone and partial-cone isomers of 5,11,17,23-tetra-?ert-butyl-25,27-bis( diethylcarbamoylmethoxy)-26,28-bisi( diphenylphospninoylmethoxy) calyx[ 4] arene ( cone-1 and partial-cone -1) in 1,2-dichloroethane towards rare-earth metal ions in nitrate media at 25 ° C were investigated. The analysis of the extraction equilibrium obtained from a mixture of four rare-earths ( La, Eu, Er and Y) revealed that the extracted species have a 1 1 metal/ ligand ratio for both ligands. The intra-group separation efficiercies of the ligandls have been evaluated in a competitive extraction process of 11 rare-earth metal ions ( La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb and Y). Significantly higher extractive properties were found for cone-1 with respect to partial-cone-1, suggesting the crucial role of the phosphoryl groups in the complexation of the rare-earth ions. These findings were