Room temperature ionic liquid diluent for the mutual separation of europium(III) from americium(III)

The extraction behavior of (152+154)Eu(III) and 241Am(III) in a solution of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) or bis(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamic acid (HDEHDGA) in the ionic liquid, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (omimNTf2), was studied at 298 K. The extractant HDEHDGA was synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy. The effect of various parameters such as the concentrations of nitric acid, D2EHPA, HDEHDGA and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) on the extraction behavior of 241Am(III) and (152+154)Eu(III) was studied and the results are reported in this paper. Superior extraction of the target metals and excellent separation factors achieved with the use of the ionic liquid diluent indicates the feasibility of separating lanthanides from actinides present in high-level liquid waste (HLLW).

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Lanthanide–actinide separation. ► Di-glycolamic acid extractants. ► Room temperature ionic liquid diluent. ► Distribution ratio of americium(III) and europium(III). ► High separation factor using ionic liquids.