Development of ion exchange chelators for actinide separations

Our group has recently developed a new family of chelating ligands that contain both phosphoryl and N-oxide donor centers. In particular, [Ph2P(O)CH2]2C5H3NO, is a ligand that strongly binds trivalent actinide and lanthanide ions present in strongly acidic solutions. It has been shown that this ligand binds in a neutral form. not through an ionic displacement process. Phosphonic acid derivatives of this ligand, on the other hand, do bind by H+ displacement and this coordination behavior will be discussed together with the results of binding with other phosphonic acid ligands