A magnetic adsorbent for the mutual separation of Am(III) and Eu(III) from dilute nitric acid medium

Abstract Iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) particles anchored with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamate (Fe–Si-MeIm-DEHDGA) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) etc. The adsorption behavior of Am(III) and Eu(III) in Fe–Si-MeIm-DEHDGA was studied from dilute nitric acid medium to examine the feasibility of using Fe–Si-MeIm-DEHDGA for the magnetic assisted mutual separation of trivalent actinides and lanthanides. The effect of various parameters such as the duration of equilibration, concentration of nitric acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in aqueous phase on the distribution coefficient (K d ) of Am(III) and Eu(III) was studied. The distribution coefficient of ~ 10 4 mL/g was obtained for both Am(III) and Eu(III) at pH 3 and it decreased with increase in the concentration of nitric acid. Rapid adsorption of metal ions in the initial stages of equilibration followed by the establishment of equilibrium occurred within 2 h. The study indicated the possibility of using Fe–Si-MeIm-DEHDGA particles for the magnetic separation of Eu(III) from Am(III) with high separation factors.