Americium and europium extraction from carbonate solutions by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoylpyrazolone -5

Trivalent TPEs and REEs are extractable from carbonate solutions by 1-pheny-3-methyl-4-benzoylpyrazolone-5 (PMBP). The effect of concentration of KHCO/sub 3/ and K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/, extractant, metal, and other factors on the extent of extraction of the elements has been clarified. The kinetics of extraction of the elements from carbonate solutions has been studied. It has been shown that in the KHCO/sub 3/ concentration range 0.2-2.0 M americium and europium are extracted by PMBP solutions in different diluents with distribution coefficients lying within n x 10/sup 2/-n x 10/sup 3/. From K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ solutions the elements are extracted better by PMBP solutions in methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). It has been shown that metal concentration in the range 1x10/sup -5/. 5x10/sup -3/ g-ion x liter/sup -1/ does not affect extraction (log E = 3). Extracts based on PMBP with a metal content higher than 5x10/sup -3/g-ion x liter/sup -1/ were obtained by absolute concentrating method and were used for the study of /sup 13/C NMR spectra. The composition of thecompounds extracted by PMBP from carbonate solutions was determined by /sup 13/C NMR spectroscopy and extraction. The conditions of europium and americium reextraction from extracts based on PMBP by complexones, their mixtures withmore » alkalis and other substances were studied. The scopes for using the system PMBP-carbonate solutions to separate and concentrate TPEs and REEs has been examined.« less