N,N,N',N'-Tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide as Very Effective Extraction Agent for Trivalent Europium and Americium.

Solvent extraction of microamounts of Eu3+ and Am3+ from water into nitrobenzene by means of a mixture of hydrogen dicarbollylcobaltate (H+B-) and N,N,N',N'-tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide (L) was studied. The equilibrium data were explained assuming that the species HL+, H2L2+, HL+2, ML3+2, and ML3+3 (M3+ = Eu3+, Am3+; L = N,N,N',N'-tetrabutyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide) are extracted into the nitrobenzene phase. Extraction and stability constants of the cationic complex species in nitrobenzene saturated with water were determined and discussed.