Distribution of U(VI) from Aqueous Solutions into Chloroform Solution of N,N’-Ethylenebis (4-butanoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-oneimine)

The distribution of U(VI) from aqueous media into chloroform solution of N,N’-ethylenebis (4-butanoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-oneimine) (H2BuEtP) a Schiff base has been studied to determine the effect of buffer media, mineral acids, auxiliary complexing agents and 4-butanoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-one (HBuP) on the distribution behaviour. A 1:1 interaction was observed between U(VI) and the ligand during the extraction process and one mole of hydrogen ion was found to have been displaced in the reaction process. The study shows that pH of the extraction of U(VI) shifted from 4.88 ± 0.10 to 2.14 ± 0.10 for CHCl3 solutions of H2BuEtP and H2BuEtP-HBuP respectively. Extraction constants (Log Kex)-1.68 ± 0.12 and-0.72 ± 0.13 were determined respectively from the studies, indicating that addition of HBuP made the extraction process more efficient. Species extracted were characterized as complexes with suggested formulae UO2(HBuEtP)X and UO2(HBuEtP)X.HBuP where X is an anion. Graphical analysis shows also that UO2(HBuEtP)X.HBuP could be extracted as UO2(BuP)X.(H2BuEtP), indicating a potential synthetic method for metal complex species with position isomers by liquid-liquid extraction technique. Studies of extraction from auxiliary complexing agents support the existence of species proposed above leading to enhanced extraction of U(VI) from X = NO3-, SO42