SYNERGISTIC EXTRACTION OF URANYL THENOYLTRIFLUOROACETONATE WITH TRIOCTYL PHOSPHINE OXIDE

Synergistic effect with a strong donor, trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), has been studied in the extraction of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) complexes of uranyl ion. The chemical form of the species extracted was found to be the 1∶1 adduct, UO2A2·S (S∶TOPO), and no evidence was found concerning other mixed complexes. Adduct formation constants determined in twelve inert solvents vary from lg KS=6.79 in chloroform to 9.58 in n-hexane, while their increasing order is almost the same as that for the adducts with other phosphine oxides and TBP.