Solvent extraction of Cs(I), Zn(II), Eu(III) and Am(III) by 2-heptyl-2-methyl-nonanoic acid (Ha) from nitrate solutions

The present work is devoted to study the extraction behavior of caesium, zinc, europium and americium radioactive isotopes using a new extractant C H3 (C H2)6. C(C7 H15) (C H3). COOH (Ha) dissolved in benzene from aqueous nitrate media of constant ionic strength (0.1 M) using HNO3-Na NO3 mixtures. The effect temperature on the extraction of these elements was also investigated to evaluate the thermodynamic functions as well as the equilibrium constant of each reaction. The extraction mechanisms were postulated on the light of the available data and the extracted species were formulated in the proposed stoichiometric equation for the extraction of each element individually and these species were suggested to be Cs (A); Zn OH(A) and Zn(A)2; Eu No3(A)2 and Am(A)3 and for Cs(I), Zn(II), Eu(III) and Am(III), respectively. The thermodynamic parameters show exothermic enthalpy for all the reactions and negative entropy values reflecting very good ordering extraction mechanisms. 10 figs, 1 tab