Surveying Phase Modifier Functional Groups for Applications to Ln(III) Separations.

The application of ,,','-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) in solvent extraction systems for lanthanide (Ln) separations is well understood. In these systems, the formation of a third phase has motivated the use of phase modifiers to enable higher concentrations of H and Ln common to industrial processes. Several different phase modifiers with applications to diglycolamide (DGA) systems have previously been reported, with a focus on tri--butyl phosphate (TBP), ,'-dihexylactanamide (DHOA), -dioctyl-2-hydroxyacetamide (DOHyA), ,'-dimethyl-,'-dioctylhexylethoxy malonamide (DMDOHEMA), and octanol.

Influence of Aqueous Phase Acidity on Ln(III) Coordination by ,,','-Tetraoctyldiglycolamide.

This study highlights the importance of combining distribution ratio measurements with multiple spectroscopic techniques to provide a more comprehensive understanding of organic phase Ln coordination chemistry. Solvent extraction investigations with ,,','-tetraoctyldiglycolamide (TODGA) in -heptane reveal the sensitivity of Ln complexation to the HNO concentration. Distribution ratio measurements in tandem with UV-Vis demonstrated that increasing the concentration of HNO above 0.

A multi-faceted approach to probe organic phase composition in TODGA systems with 1-alcohol phase modifiers.

The effect of varying 1-alcohol alkyl chain length on extraction of lanthanides (Lns), HO, and H was studied with tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) solvent extraction coupled with FT-IR investigations. This multi-faceted approach provided understanding regarding the relationship between extracted Lns, HO and H, 1-alcohol volume fraction, and 1-alcohol alkyl chain length. Under acidic conditions there is competition with 1-alcohols and their ability to solubilize aggregates and incidentally induce third phase formation by increasing the extraction of HO.

FUNCTIONALIZED ELECTROSPUN POLYMER NANOFIBERS FOR TREATMENT OF WATER CONTAMINATED WITH URANIUM.

Uranium (U) contamination of drinking water often affects communities with limited resources, presenting unique technology challenges for U treatment. Here, we develop a suite of chemically functionalized polymer (polyacrylonitrile; PAN) nanofibers for low pressure reactive filtration applications for U removal. Binding agents with either nitrogen-containing or phosphorous-based (e.