Extraction of UO22+into ionic liquid using TTA and TBP as extractants

Thenoyltrifluoroacetone and Tributyl-phosphate have been used for extraction of UO22+ into Ionic Liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. Increasing acidity of uranyl solution from 0.01 to 3 mol L−1 HNO3 for TTA in IL, the distribution ratio (DU) and extraction efficiency (%E) both decreased. Further increment in acidity shows reversal of trend. Similar behavior is observed for TBP. With increasing concentration of TTA, %E increases stabilizing at 0.5 mol L−1 TTA. Adding methanol to TTA increased the DU due to active enolic formation. The developed kinetic model estimates the overall mass transfer coefficient (Ka) as 3.6 x 10−2 s−1. Synergistic effect has been observed for combination of TTA + TBP resulting in enhanced DU.