Synergistic Extraction of Europium (III) using Di-n-Butylsulfoxide and Picrolonic Acid

Srosh Fazil; Farid Menaa; Khurram Liaqat; Muhammad Haleem Khan; Wajid Rehman; Mohammad Mansoob Khan; Siraj Ul Haq; Muhammad Sajid; Muhammad Farooq; Bouzid Menaa; Muhammad Hafeez

doi:10.2174/1386207324666210210105511

Synergistic Extraction of Europium (III) using Di-n-Butylsulfoxide and Picrolonic Acid

Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 2022;25(5):861-869. doi: 10.2174/1386207324666210210105511.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
² Department of Chemistry and Nanomedicine, California Innovations Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry, Hazara University, Mansehra, KPK, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam.
⁶ Department of Biochemistry, Hazara University, Mansehra, KPK, Pakistan.
⁷ Department of Physics, Hazara University, Mansehra, KPK, Pakistan.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Muzaffarabad , Pakistan.

PMID: 33568027
DOI: 10.2174/1386207324666210210105511

Abstract

Aim and objective: Europium (Eu(III)) is a rare-earth metal, the softest, least dense, and most volatile member of lanthanides. It is greatly applied in the control rods of nuclear reactors. Although various extraction methods of Eu(III) have been reported, we present a novel mixture of easily available extractants in optimized experimental conditions to extract it efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively.

Materials and methods: Physical-chemical conditions (e.g., pH, equilibration time, temperature, europium concentration, extractants concentration, presence of specific metal ions) were optimized. The extractants, picrolonic acid (HPA) and di-n-butylsulfoxide (DBSO), were thoroughly mixed at equal concentration in chloroform. Standard Eu(III) solution was used for determining the method's accuracy. Reagent blank was prepared under identical conditions but without metal ions. Using the metallochromic dye arsenazo III as the blank, the absorbance of Eu(III) was measured spectrophotometrically at 651 nm. The distribution ratio (i.e., Eu(III) concentration in the aqueous phase before and after extraction) defined the extraction yield.

Results: HPA/DBSO mixture (0.01 M) had a synergistic effect on Eu(III) extraction (1.19×10^-5 mole/dm³), achieving a maximum yield (≥ 99%) at pH 2, during 5 minutes equilibration at room temperature. Eu(III) extraction was reduced depending on the nature but not on the metal ions concentration. Extractants could be recycled four times without consequent degradation. Deionized water (dH₂O) was the best strippant besides its availability and low-cost. The composition of the extracted adduct was defined as Eu(PA)₃.2DBSO.

Conclusion: This alternative method was found to be stable, simple, rapid, cost-effective, reliable, accurate and sensitive. It could be used for Eu(III) extraction and refining on a pilot plant scale.

Keywords: Synergistic extraction; di-n-butylsulfoxide (DBSO); europium; ores processing; picrolonic Acid (HPA); spectrophotometry.

MeSH terms

Europium* / chemistry
Ions
Pyrazolones*
Temperature

Substances

Ions
Pyrazolones
Europium
picrolonic acid