Trace-scale extraction of carrier-free tungsten radioisotope as a homolog of Sg using ionic liquid from acid solutions: Kinetic study

Abstract

This study aimed to find a rapid extraction system for the preparation of a Seaborgium (Sg) aqueous chemistry experiment in the future. A new approach for extraction of 181W tracer as a lighter homolog of (Sg) by ionic liquids is explored. A natural tantalum target was activated by a beam of 9 MeV proton at Cologne University to produce carrier-free 181W. The preliminary batch extraction experiments of the carrier-free 181W from HCl and H2SO4 solutions have been evaluated. Different batch extraction parameters such as feed acidity, diluent type, ionic strength (KCl feed) and reducing agent as a function of time were explored. The obtained results demonstrated that the highest distribution of carrier-free 181W from 0.001 M acidic solutions using the used ionic liquid is observed. A significant rapid kinetic for the extraction of trace-scale using the used ionic liquid is achieved within 5 sec. The preliminary results are necessary to design the upcoming aqueous experiments of Sg. The next goal will be on-line experiments with the centrifuge system SISAK to develop the aqueous chemistry extraction of Sg using the most promising and adequate experimental setup.