Synthesis of Task Specific Ionic Liquids for Extraction of Lanthanides/Actinides from Nuclear Waste

Abstract

Two DGA based extractants were synthesized and functionalized with imidazolium and ammonium cations. These DGA functionalized ionic liquid were named as LI and LII. The prepared functionalized ionic liquid were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques FTIR and NMR. The NMR spectroscopic analysis confirm the synthesis of diglycolamate based extractants. The extraction efficiencies of both the extractants were evaluated for the extraction of Eu(III), Sm(III) and UO2 2+ from the acidic aqueous phase. The experiments were carried out to optimize the equilibrium time, initial pH of the aqueous phase and the ligand concentration in the organic phase, to determine extraction stoichiometry. The metal to ligand ratio was found to be 1:3 for Eu(III), Sm(III) and 1:2 for the UO2 2+. The extraction study at various nitrate ion concentration, suggest the involvement of NO3 - in the complex formation. Both the ligands were found better extractants for trivalent Eu3+, Sm3+ in comparison with the hexavalent uranyl ion.