Raman spectroscopic investigation of lanthanides and actinides complexation by pyridine-2-carboxamide

Pyridine 2 - carboxamides - more commonly named picolinamides - are studied in CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses. Their possible ability to separate Actinides from Lanthanides could make them interesting in nuclear wastes processing. We have undertaken a Raman spectroscopic investigation of the reactions of unsubstituted picolinamides with the proton and 4f and 5f metallic cations in aqueous solution because pyridine 2 - carboxamide: - is fairly soluble in water, where Raman Spectroscopy is a good investigation method for studying complexation reactions, - possess strong characteristic vibrations: a) pyridine cycle vibrations at 1000 and 1046 cm-1. b) C = O bond vibration around 1675 cm-1, sensitive to complexation with proton and metallic ions. For more convenience we have worked in chloride media instead of the more frequent nitrate medium to prevent the strong disturbing nitrate vibration at 1047 cm-1. (author)