Synergistic extraction of europium and americium into nitrobenzene by using hydrogen dicarbollylcobaltate and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dioxide

Abstract

Extraction of microamounts of europium and americium by a nitrobenzene solution of hydrogen dicarbollylcobaltate (H⁺B⁻) in the presence of bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dioxide (DPPMDO, L) has been investigated. The equilibrium data have been explained assuming that the species ${\text{HL}}^{ + }$, ${\text{HL}}_{2}^{ + }$, ${\text{ML}}_{2}^{3 + }$, ${\text{ML}}_{3}^{3 + }$ and ${\text{ML}}_{4}^{3 + }$ (M³⁺ = Eu³⁺, Am³⁺) are extracted into the organic phase. The values of extraction and stability constants of the species in nitrobenzene saturated with water have been determined. It was found that the stability constants of the corresponding complexes ${\text{EuL}}_{n}^{3 + }$ and ${\text{AmL}}_{n}^{3 + }$, where n = 2, 3 and L is DPPMDO, in water–saturated nitrobenzene are comparable, whereas in this medium the stability of the cationic species ${\text{AmL}}_{4}^{3 + }$ (L = DPPMDO) is somewhat higher than that of ${\text{EuL}}_{4}^{3 + }$ with the same ligand L.