Supercritical carbon dioxide-soluble ligands for extracting actinide metal ions from porous solids (EMSP Project Number 64965)
The objective of this project is to develop novel, substituted diphosphonic acid ligands that can be used for supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCDE) of actinide ions from solid wastes. Specifically, selected diphosphonic acids, which are known to form extremely stable complexes with actinides in aqueous and organic solution, are to be rendered carbon dioxide-soluble by the introduction of appropriate alkyl- or silicon-containing substituents. The metal complexation chemistry of these new ligands in SC-CO{sub 2} will then be investigated and techniques for their use in actinide extraction from porous solids developed. This report summarizes the work performed during the first 1.3 years of a 3-year program. Because the planned studies of metal complexation and the development of techniques for actinide removal from solids are dependent on the availability of suitable ligands, efforts to date have focused primarily on the synthesis of selected alkyl- or silicon-containing diphosphonic acids. The authors' principal targets have been derivatives in which the silicon-containing groups either serve as the ester function or are attached to the anchor carbon of the diphosphonic acid. Because methylenediphosphonic acid (MDPA) is commercially available and because its esterification with simple alcohols to yield symmetrical diesters is well-established, their initial studies have focused on this ligand and its reactions with silyl alcohols. Success has been achieved in the reaction of MDPA and its ethylene, propylene, and butylene analogs with 3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanol. Using a procedure similar to that previously employed for the synthesis of C-8 dialkylmethylenediphosphonic acids, this series of alkylenediphosphonic acids has been esterified in good yield (ca. 60%) to the symmetrically-substituted diesters. Vapor phase osmometric and cryoscopic studies of these compounds in toluene and 1-decanol, respectively, indicate that their aggregation properties closely parallel those of the dialkyl-substituted alkylenediphosphonic acids, specifically, the P,P{prime}-bis(2-ethylhexyl)alkylenediphosphonic acids, H{sub 2}DEH[ADP]. Infrared spectroscopy and molecular mechanics methods have been employed to obtain information about the structures of the dimers of P,P{prime}-di-[3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propylene]methylenediphosphonic acid, H{sub 2}TMSP[MDP], and its propylene analog. Infrared spectroscopy has also been employed to provide qualitative information on the binding of various metal ions by H{sub 2}TMSP[MDP]. The metal complexation properties of this ligand have been found to be similar to those of di-(2-ethylhexyl)methylenediphosphonic acid, examined previously. Studies of the extraction of various cations (e.g., Fe(III), Th(IV), Am(III)) by H{sub 2}TMSP[MDP] and its ethylene analog in conventional organic diluents (e.g., o-xylene) indicate that the extraction behavior of the silyl-derivatized diphosphonic acids closely mimics that of conventional alkylenediphosphonic acids. Thus, derivatization has no adverse impact on the complexation or extraction properties of the diphosphonic acids.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 755841
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CHM/RP-101889; R&D Project: EMSP Project Number 64965; TRN: US0003830
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 24 Apr 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Metal extraction by silyl-substituted diphosphonic acids. Part 2. Effect of alkyl bridge length on aggregation and metal ion extraction behavior.
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Soluble Ligands for Extracting Actinide Metal Ions from Porous Solids
Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
SUPERCRITICAL GAS EXTRACTION
ACTINIDES
SOLID WASTES
PHOSPHONIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
IRON
THORIUM
AMERICIUM
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING