Nitrogen macrocyclic molecules for sequestering of heavy metals

The tetra-aza-macrocycles and their derivatives have interesting properties in many fields, in particular for heavy metal extraction. Indeed, these ligands are able to complex many metals like uranium, plutonium, americium, cadmium, lead, etc. We describe the evolutions of design of these molecules since a score of years: simplifications of the synthesis leading to the improvement of the outputs, use of intermediate compounds facilitating the transposition at an industrial scale of the production of such molecules. The physicochemical behaviour of these ligands with respect to lanthanides and actinides, and their use within various processes of treatment are evoked. (authors)