THERMODYNAMICS OF EXTRACTION OF Am(III) AND Eu(III) FROM NITRATE AND THIOCYANATE MEDIA WITH OCTYL(PHENYL)-N,N-DIISOBUTYLCARBAMOYLMETHYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE

ABSTRACT

The extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) from 1.0 M NH₄NO₃ and NHS₄SCN at pH 2.60 into octyl(pheriyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) in n-dodecane has been studied in the temperature range 15.0 to 45.0°C. Under all conditions, the species ML₃·CMPO is the dominant extracted complex. The extraction equilibrium constants are at least 10₃ higher in the SCN^- systems than in the NO₃ ^- systems. This difference is attributed to the relative energy associated with transfer of the anions from the aqueous to the: extractant phase. Extraction enthalpies and entropies have been calculated in each system from the temperature dependence of K_ex. Enthalpies are considerably more exothermic in the thiocyanate system for both metal ions. Comparison of ΔH_Am ^SCN with ΔH_EU ^SCN gives a possible indication of enhanced Am-SCN bond strength in the extracted complex.

Notes

Work performed under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences under contract number W-31-109-ENG-38.

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Notes on contributors

K. L. Nash

Author for correspondence.