Effective Separation of Am(III) from Cm(III) Using Modified BTPhen Ligands

Abstract

Electronic modulation of CyMe4-BTPhen with 5-bromo and 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl) substituents leads to enhanced separation of Am(III) from Cm(III) over 0.1 – 3 M HNO3 (SFAm/Cm = ca. 9 at 0.1 M HNO3). In addition, substituting bromine atoms at the 5 and 6 positions of the phenanthroline backbone provides a mean of separating Am(III) from Eu(III) (SFAm/Eu = ca. 240 at 3 M HNO3).