Solid phase extraction of Am(III) and Cm(III) from acidic feeds using tetraethyl diglycolamide (TEDGA) in ionic liquid

Solvent extraction of Am(III) and Cm(III) with several diglycolamide ligands in an ionic liquid, [C4mim][Tf2N] was investigated from nitric acid medium. Based on the encouraging extraction behaviour with N,N,N′,N′-tetraethyldiglycolamide (TEDGA), extraction chromatographic studies were carried out using a resin material made from Chromosorb-W impregnated with a solution of TEDGA in [C4mim][Tf2N]. The kinetics of metal ion uptake and sorption isotherms were also investigated. The maximum sorption capacity of the resin was estimated to be 20.05 ± 0.73 mg/g

Active actinium.

Berkelium (Bk) has been predicted to be the only transplutonium element able to exhibit both +III and +IV oxidation states in solution, but evidence of a stable oxidized Bk chelate has so far remained elusive. Here we describe the stabilization of the heaviest 4+ ion of the periodic table, under mild aqueous conditions, using a siderophore derivative. The resulting Bk(IV) complex exhibits luminescence via sensitization through an intramolecular antenna effect. This neutral Bk(IV) coordination compound is not sequestered by the protein siderocalin-a mammalian metal transporter-in contrast to the negatively charged species obtained with neighbouring trivalent actinides americium, curium and californium (Cf). The corresponding Cf(III)-ligand-protein ternary adduct was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Combined with theoretical predictions, these data add significant insight to the field of transplutonium chemistry, and may lead to innovative Bk separation and purification processes