Selective extraction of Americium(III) over macroscopic concentration of Lanthanides(III) by synergistic system of TPEN and D2EHPA in 1-octanol

Watanabe, Masayuki; Mirvaliev, R.*; Tachimori, Shoichi; Takeshita, Kenji*; Nakano, Yoshio*; Morikawa, Koshi*; Chikazawa, Takahiro*; Mori, Ryohei*

The synergistic extraction with N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-methylpyridyl)-ethylenediamine (TPEN) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) demonstrates a good selectivity for Am(III) over macro amount of Ln(III) in 1-octanol. The maximum apparent separation factor, which is defined as the ratio of the distribution ratio of Am(III) to that of Eu(III), is ca. 80 while the molar fraction between D2EHPA and TPEN is 2.0. This ratio is corresponding to the result of the spectrophotometric titration, which indicates that TPEN and D2EHPA form an aggregate in 1-octanol and two D2EHPA molecules coordinate to Eu(III) TPEN complex, [Eu(TPEN)]. In the present study, the association of D2EHPA and TPEN is one of the most important factors for the synergistic extraction and the complexation of TPEN and D2EHPA with Eu(III).