Liquid–Liquid Extraction and Supported Liquid Membrane Transport of Neptunium(IV) Across a Flat-Sheet Supported Liquid Membrane Containing a TREN-DGA Derivative

Liquid–liquid extraction and liquid membrane transport behavior of tetravalent actinide ions viz. Th(IV), Np(IV), Pu(IV) were investigated for the first time using a diglycolamide (DGA) based dendrimer with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) scaffold as organic extractant. The generation 1 six DGA pendent moieties (termed TREN-G1-DenDGA) extracted Np(IV) more effectively than other two ions, trend being > Th(IV). studies from 3 M HNO3 indicated 1:1 (metal:ligand) species efficiency increased increasing nitric acid concentration (1–6 M). M) well ligand concentration. A very low 5.75 × 10?4 ligand, when used carrier, resulted in ca. 25% metal ion 5 h, which to >85% 4.4 10?3 ligand. across SLM followed Th(IV) Pu(IV). stability was not satisfactory seen over period days suggesting long-term use may require regular replenishment carrier solvent. effective diffusion coefficient (Deff) Np(IV)-TREN-G1-DenDGA determined by lag-time method found be 5.1 10?8 cm2/s.