Selective separation of trivalent f-ions using 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide ligands in ionic liquids

Abstract

1,10-Phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide complexants decorated with alkyl chains and imidazolium cations have been studied for extraction of trivalent f-ions into imidazolium ionic liquids. The dicationic complexants are shown to extract Am over Eu with separation factors >50 and high extraction efficiencies. The different size selectivities for lanthanide ions were observed for these two types of complexants, highlighting the importance of the positive charge in controlling both extraction efficiencies and extraction selectivities.