Determination of stability constants between complexing agents and At(I) and At(III) species present at ultra-trace concentrations

A competition method is proposed to determine the complexation constants between At(I) and At(III) species and complexing agents. The method, tested with an inorganic ligand, thiocyanate ion (SCN−), and an organic macromolecule, thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate (LH4) is based on solid/liquid separation or liquid/liquid extraction. For the solid/liquid separation, the cationic exchanger Dowex 50X8 was used. The interaction of At(I) and At(III) with the cationic exchanger is specific but could not be described by the expected cation exchange process. Most probably, At(I, III) interacts with a “strong” site (in weak amount) to form a surface complex at the surface of the resin organic skeleton. For the liquid/liquid separation, chloroform, toluene and hexane were used. All solvents extract astatine species with distribution coefficients varying between 0.7 and 120. The extraction process was shown to be independent of aqueous phase characteristics (pH, ionic strength) and was explained by the solvation of astatine species by the organic solvent. The effect of the addition of the thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on the solid/liquid or liquid/liquid distribution coefficients could be well described by the formation of a 1:1 complex with stability constants of log β1 = 4.5 ± 0.4 and 3.3 ± 0.3 for At(I) and At(III), respectively. For the thiocyanate ion, the data measured in the presence of the organic solvents could be explained by the formation of both 1:1 and 1:2 At:SCN complexes. In the case of the solid/liquid separation, data analysis was hampered by the probable formation of a ternary complex between At(I, III), SCN− and the functional groups of the resin. As for the calixarene, the interaction strength appeared slightly higher for At(I) (log β2 = 5.9 ± 0.3 and log β1 = 3.8 ± 0.2 for 1:2 and 1:1 complexed species, respectively) than for At(III) (log β2 = 5.3 ± 0.2 and log β1 = 2.8 ± 0.2 for 1:2 and 1:1 complexed species, respectively).

We are interested in the metallic character of astatine, the heaviest halogen, and its ability to form complexes with ligands. A simple competition method is proposed to characterize these interactions.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide