Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1986, 51, 791-800
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19860791

The composition of complexes in the organic phase during the extraction of Eu(III) and Am(III) by benzyldibutylamine and benzyltrialkylammonium nitrates

Libor Kučaa, Věra Jedinákováb and Lubomír Daňob

a Nucear Research Institute, 250 68 Řež
b Department for the Technology of Nuclear Fuels and Radiochemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology, 166 28 Prague 6

Abstract

The extraction of americium and europium from acid nitrate solutions by benzene solutions of benzyldibutylamine nitrate (I) and quaternary ammonium salts benzyllauryldimethylammonium nitrate (II) and benzyltrioctylammonium nitrate (III) has been studied. During extraction with I, {(R3NH+)2, Me(NO3)2-5} is formed in the organic phase, extraction with II yields {(R4N+), Me(NO3)-4} and {(R4N+)2, Me(NO3)2-5} is formed during extraction with III. The concentration of nitrate ions does not have an unambiguous effect on the stoichiometry of the extraction. In addition to favouring the formation of the nitrate complexes of Am3+ and Eu3+, which are extracted by amines, nitrate ions also have a nonspecific salting out effect. The changes in the water content in the organic phase in dependence on the concentration of the metal complex suggests that the complex of Eu with II is not hydrated in the organic phase.