Selective Separation of Trivalent Europium(III) from Americium(III) using N,N′Dimethyl-N,N′-di-2-phenylethyl-diglycol Amide (MPEDGA) Extractant in Ionic Liquid

Abstract

A diglycolamide based N , N ′ -Dimethyl- N , N ′ -di-2-phenylethyl-diglycol amide (MPEDGA) extractant was synthesized and dissolved into 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nonafluorobutanesulfonate ([C 4 mim][NfO]) to prepare the extraction phase. Its separation performance of Am-241 with Eu-152 in nitric acid solution was investigated. The extraction kinetics were fast and could reach equilibrium within 15 min. When [HNO 3 ] = 0.1 M, the maximum SF Eu-152/ Am-241 was obtained as 124. Moreover, with increase in the concentration of HNO 3 , the extraction ability decreased gradually, and SF Eu-152/ Am-241 decreased as 3 when [HNO 3 ] reached 4 M. Back extraction was successfully completed by using 1 M guanidine carbonate with 0.5 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or 1 M guanidine carbonate with 0.5 M diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), respectively. Slope analysis revealed a 1:3 complex was formed. Effect of temperature further clarified the extraction process was exothermic.