N,N,N’,N’-Tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide as Very Effective Extraction Agent for Trivalent Europium and Americium

Abstract

Solvent extraction of microamounts of Eu³⁺ and Am³⁺ from water into nitrobenzene by means of a mixture of hydrogen dicarbollylcobaltate (H⁺B^-) and N,N,N’,N’-tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide (L) was studied. The equilibrium data were explained assuming that the species HL⁺, H2L(2+), HL2(+), ML2(3+) , and ML3(3+)  (M³⁺ = Eu³⁺, Am³⁺; L = N,N,N’,N’-tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide) are extracted into the nitrobenzene phase. Extraction and stability constants of the cationic complex species in nitrobenzene saturated with water were determined and discussed. From the experimental results it is evident that this effective N,N,N’,N’-tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide receptor for the Eu³⁺ and Am³⁺ cations could be considered as a potential extraction agent for nuclear waste treatment.