Extraction of Am (III) and Eu (III) by a beta diketone, HPMAP in room temperature ionic liquid

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), by virtue of their negligible volatility, long liquidus range and tunable physical properties among other things, are considered as alternatives to volatile organic compounds to be used as diluents in solvent extraction. Their display of unusually high extraction properties make them attractive for pursuing actinide research in the nuclear fuel cycle activities. A mono basic chelating beta diketone, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-acetyl-5-pyrazalone (HPMAP) is well studied for its extraction of Pu and other metal ions in molecular diluents. However, its behaviour in RTILs is not well studied. The present work describes the results obtained during the extraction of Am³⁺ and Eu³⁺ by PMAP in a RTIL, C₈mimNTf₂, under varying experimental conditions which help in understanding the extraction mechanism in the RTIL medium