Application of bifunctional ionic liquids for extraction and separation of Eu^(3+) from chloride medium

The extraction of Eu^(3+)from chloride medium using bifunctional ionic liquid extractants(Bif-ILEs)tri-n-octylmethyl ammonium bis(2-ethyl hexyl)phosphate([A336][D2EHP])and trihexyltetradecyl phosphonium bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate([P_(66614)][D2EHP])in kerosene was studied to develop environmentally friendly extraction process.The extraction behavior of Eu^(3+)was examined by varying key process parameters.The extraction behavior indicates that ammonium-based ionic liquid[A336][D2EHP]shows better extraction efficiency of Eu^(3+)than that of phosphonium-based ionic liquid[P_(66614)][D2EHP].Quantitative extraction of Eu^(3+)is obtained with 0.05 mol/L[A336][D2EHP],whereas,0.1 mol/L of[P_(66614)][D2EHP]is required to achieve the same extraction rate of Eu^(3+).The extraction process is endothermic with respect to[A336][D2EHP].Stripping experiments indicate that 100%of Eu^(3+)can be back extracted from both the loaded ionic liquids using 20 vol.%HNO_(3).The highest separation factor(βY/Eu)of 653.59 is reported at pH of 3.2,and the separation factor of Eu^(3+)over La^(3+)is 30.6 at the same pH.From the leach liquors of waste tube light powder,99.98%of Eu and 99.99%Y are recovered using 0.2 mol/L[A336][D2EHP]in 2-stage cross current extraction with aqueous to organcic ratio(O/A)of 1:1 and 1:2.