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Solvent extraction of U(VI) by trioctylphosphine oxide using a room-temperature ionic liquid

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  • Special Topic Chemical Challenges in Nuclear Fuel Cycle
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Abstract

The unique physical and chemical properties of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have recently received increasing attention as solvent alternatives for possible application in the field of nuclear industry, particularly in liquid-liquid separations of radioactive nuclides. We investigated solvent extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solutions into a commonly used ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C4mim][NTf2]) using trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as an extractant. The effects of contact time, TOPO concentration, acidity, and nitrate ions on the U(VI) extraction are discussed in detail. The extraction mechanism was proposed based on slope analysis and UV-Vis measurement. The results clearly show that TOPO/[C4mim][NTf2] provides a highly efficient extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solution under near-neutral conditions. When the TOPO concentration was 10 mmol/L, the extraction of 1 mmol/L U(VI) was almost complete (> 97%). Both the extraction efficiency and distribution coefficient were much larger than in conventional organic solvents such as dichloromethane. Slope analysis confirmed that three TOPO molecules in [C4mim][NTf2] bound with one U(VI) ion and one nitrate ion was also involved in the complexation and formed the final extracted species of [UO2(NO3)(TOPO)3]+. Such a complex suggests that extraction occurs by a cation-exchange mode, which was subsequently evidenced by the fact that the concentration of C4mim+ in the aqueous phase increased linearly with the extraction percent of U(VI) recorded by UV-Vis measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Nuclear Radiation and Nuclear Energy Technology; Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    LiYong Yuan, Man Sun, XiangHong Liao, YuLiang Zhao, ZhiFang Chai & WeiQun Shi

  2. School of Radiological & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China

    ZhiFang Chai

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  1. LiYong Yuan
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  2. Man Sun
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  3. XiangHong Liao
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  4. YuLiang Zhao
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  5. ZhiFang Chai
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  6. WeiQun Shi
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Correspondence to WeiQun Shi.

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Yuan, L., Sun, M., Liao, X. et al. Solvent extraction of U(VI) by trioctylphosphine oxide using a room-temperature ionic liquid. Sci. China Chem. 57, 1432–1438 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-014-5194-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-014-5194-8

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