Comparison in the extraction behavior of uranium(VI) from nitric acid medium using CHON based extractants, monoamide, malonamide, and diglycolamide, dissolved in piperidinium ionic liquid

ABSTRACT

Liquid-liquid extraction of U(VI) from nitric acid medium was carried out using three different class of CHON based molecular extractants namely monoamide, malonamide, and diglycolamide present in 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C₄mpip][NTf₂]) ionic liquid. The extractants investigated were di-n-hexyloctanamide (DHOA), N,N-dimethyl-N,N-di-octyl-2-(2-hexyloxylethyl)malonamide (DMDOHEMA) and N,N,N’,N’-tetra(ethylhexyl)diglycolamides (T2EHDGA). The extraction behavior of uranium(VI) in ionic liquid medium was investigated as a function of various parameters, such as the duration and temperature of equilibration, aqueous phase concentrations of feed acid, extractant, NaNO₃, and ionic liquid cation, etc. The extraction of U(VI) observed in these systems were compared with each other and the distribution ratios of U(VI) decreased in the order T2EHDGA > DMDOHEMA > DHOA. The slope analysis of the extraction data was carried out to understand the mechanistic aspects of extraction. The extraction of U(VI) observed in [C₄mpip][NTf₂] ionic liquid was also compared with pyrrolidinium ([C₄mpyr][NTf₂]) and imidazolium ([C₄mim][NTf₂]) based ionic liquids under identical experimental condition.

KEYWORDS:

• Ionic liquids
• piperidinium ionic liquid
• uranium
• extraction
• amides

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Mr. N. Ramanathan for recording FTIR spectra and Ms Surumy, M., MSc Project student, Calicut University, for her assistance in the work.