Nanoscale view of assisted ion transport across the liquid–liquid interface
During solvent extraction, amphiphilic extractants assist the transport of metal ions across the liquid–liquid interface between an aqueous ionic solution and an organic solvent. Investigations of the role of the interface in ion transport challenge our ability to probe fast molecular processes at liquid–liquid interfaces on nanometer-length scales. Recent development of a thermal switch for solvent extraction has addressed this challenge, which has led to the characterization by X-ray surface scattering of interfacial intermediate states in the extraction process. Here, we review and extend these earlier results. We find that trivalent rare earth ions, Y(III) and Er(III), combine with bis(hexadecyl) phosphoric acid (DHDP) extractants to form inverted bilayer structures at the interface; these appear to be condensed phases of small ion–extractant complexes. The stability of this unconventional interfacial structure is verified by molecular dynamics simulations. The ion–extractant complexes at the interface are an intermediate state in the extraction process, characterizing the moment at which ions have been transported across the aqueous–organic interface, but have not yet been dispersed in the organic phase. In contrast, divalent Sr(II) forms an ion–extractant complex with DHDP that leaves it exposed to the water phase; this result implies that a second process that transports Sr(II) across the interface has yet to be observed. Calculations demonstrate that the budding of reverse micelles formed from interfacial Sr(II) ion–extractant complexes could transport Sr(II) across the interface. Our results suggest a connection between the observed interfacial structures and the extraction mechanism, which ultimately affects the extraction selectivity and kinetics.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357; SC0018200
- OSTI ID:
- 1425542
- Journal Information:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 37 Vol. 116; ISSN 0027-8424
- Publisher:
- National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
X-ray Studies of Interfacial Strontium–Extractant Complexes in a Model Solvent Extraction System
Project 18-15263 X-ray Studies of Interfacial Molecular Complexes in ALSEP Back-Extraction (Research Performance Final Report)