Selective separations of Am(III)/Eu(III) using heterocyclic bistriazinyl phosphonate grafted zirconia and titania solid phase extractants

Hiltunen, O-M. (author), Suominen, T. (author), Aho, J. (author), Otaki, M. (author), Zupanc, Anže (author), Hietala, Sami (author), Silvennoinen, G. (author), Koivula, R. (author)

Surface functionalization of metal oxides with phosphonic acid monolayers by covalent bonding enables the generation of robust hybrid materials with enhanced separation properties. Mesoporous crystalline zirconia and titania serve as applicable inorganic supports with high thermal stability and resistance to oxidation, acidity and radiolysis. We have fabricated selective solid phase extractants that efficiently separate americium and europium from each other, via straightforward grafting of the zirconia and titania surfaces with N- and S-donor complexing agents, namely 2,6-bis-triazolyl-pyridine derivatives. Separation factors (Am/Eu) up to 13 were obtained in binary solution at pH 2 and preference for Am over Eu was observed even in Eu excess solution. These stable hybrid materials can be utilized for separation purposes without substantial degradation, providing advantageous reusability and a greener option in comparison to commonly used solvent extraction methods.

• Language: English
• Keywords: americium, europium, separation, recycling, trapping
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 279-291
• Numbering: Vol. 2, iss. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169966
• UDC: 546.661:546.798.23
• ISSN on article: 2755-3701
• DOI: 10.1039/D4LF00277F
• COBISS.SI-ID: 217316611
• Publication date in RUL: 27.06.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: RSC applied interfaces
• Shortened title: RSC appl. interfaces
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 2755-3701
• COBISS.SI-ID: 217286403

Licences

• License: CC BY 3.0, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
• Description: You are free to reproduce and redistribute the material in any medium or format. You are free to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: americij, evropij, ločba, recikliranje, zajetje

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P1-0230-2022
• Name: Organska kemija: sinteza, struktura in aplikacija