Synergic extraction of europium(III) in hydrophobic ammonium ionic liquid containing neutral and acidic extractants

Abstract

The extraction behavior of europium(III) in a binary solution containing octylphenyl(N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl) phosphine oxide (CMPO) and bis-2-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in ionic liquid medium has been reported in this paper. Methyltrioctylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([N1888][NTf2]) was used as ionic liquid diluent in the present study. The extraction of europium(III) was investigated as a function of various parameters, such as aqueous phase acidity, extractant concentration, equilibration time and the experimental temperature. The extraction of Eu(III) in CMPO in [N1888][NTf2] and D2EHPA in [N1888][NTf2] was studied to compare the extraction data with those obtained in a binary solution. The stripping behavior of Eu(III) from the loaded ionic liquid phase was also investigated.