The extraction of europium and americium by the nitrobenzene solution of dicarbollylcobaltate in the presence of some commercially available dioxadiamides

Abstract

We investigated the extraction of microamounts of Eu3+ and Am3+ from aqueous nitric acid solutions using nitrobenzene solutions of hydrogen dicarbollylcobaltate (H+B−) in the presence of some commercially available dioxa alkyl diamides. The significant synergistic effect was found for some structures of ligand. We suppose that the complexes $${\text{HL}}^{ + }$$, $$\text{ML}^{{\text{3} + }}$$, $$\text{ML}_{\text{2}}^{{\text{3} + }}$$ and $${\text{ML}}_{ 3}^{ 3+ }$$ (M3+ = Eu3+, Am3+) are present in the equilibrium organic phase. Extraction and stability constants of these complex species in water-saturated nitrobenzene have been determined and discussed. Lithium ionophore I and lithium ionophore IV receptors for Eu3+ and Am3+ can be used as efficient extraction agents for nuclear waste treatment.