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Author(s) |
Li, C.; Wu, L.; Chen, L.;Sengupta, A.; Murali, M. S.; Mohapatra, P. K.; and others (RCD)
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Source |
Dalton Transactions, 2016. Vol. 45 (48): pp. 19299-19310 |
ABSTRACT
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Actinide partitioning is considered as one of the most challenging issues in nuclear waste remediation. Herein, we unravel a novel extraction mode pertinent to the competitive host–guest interactions for highly efficient actinide extraction. The host–guest recognition event involves binding of a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-n-octyl-3 methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide (C8mimNTf2), as both the guest and the solvent by the hosts pillar[5]arene-based diglycolamides (P5DGAs) and the subsequent displacement of the guest by a metal ion. This two-step process suggests a unique competitive ion-mediated displacement mechanism for the metal ion partitioning in the extraction process. The supramolecular extraction system is evaluated for its extraction abilities towards actinide ions such as UO22+, PuO22+, Pu4+, Am3+, and fission product elements such as Eu3+, Sr2+, Cs+. The results demonstrate the exceedingly high distribution ratios and favorable separation of Am3+ and Pu4+ in nitric acid media. All the three P5DGAs form 1 : 1 complexes with Am3+. Time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopic (TRLFS) studies reveal a strong complexation involving no inner-sphere water molecules in the Eu3+–P5DGA complexes when C8mimNTf2 is used as the diluent. With high efficiency in the extraction of actinides and a quantitative back extraction outcome, the RTIL-based solvent systems containing pillar[5] arene-DGA ligands developed in this work hold potential as promising candidates for nuclear waste remediation in a more sustainable fashion. |
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