A uranium capture strategy based on self-assembly in a hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid extraction system

Abstract

A novel and efficient uranium capture strategy based on self-assembly is developed in an ionic liquid extraction system, by which the one-step separation and solidification of uranium are realized.

Insights into the spontaneous multi-scale supramolecular assembly in an ionic liquid-based extraction system

“…The hydroxyl-functionalized IL C 2 OHmimNTf 2 was the first IL found to form U-MA 31 and similar ILs, C n OHmimNTf 2 ( n = 3,4), were also tried to participate in the MSSA process in this work. It took a longer time to form U-MA in the C 3 OHmimNTf 2 system, whereas the U-MA could not be formed in the C 4 OHmimNTf 2 system.…”

“…The UO 2 (CMPO) 3 (NO 3 ) 2 and the UO 2 (CMPO) 3 (NTf 2 ) 2 were prepared as previously reported. 31 Ultra-pure water (18.2 MO cm) was used throughout the experiments.…”

“…1a) to 1131 cm À1 in [UO 2 (CMPO) 3 ] 2+ as reported previously without splitting. 31 Considering that the phosphoric O-donor is of stronger basicity than the carbonyl O-donor, 70,71 we believe that the three PQO bonds in [UO 2 (CMPO) 3 ] 2+ are all involved in the coordination with uranyl while the three CQO bonds are not. We used density functional theory (DFT) to reveal the reasonable structural characteristics of [UO 2 (CMPO) 3 ] 2+ in the IL phase.…”

“…Fortunately, our preliminary results in a recent communication support the novel concepts of MSSA and MSS suggested herein. 31 In addition, the solvation and phase-splitting behaviors of ILs on the multiscale can offer new insights into the essential physicochemical properties. [32][33][34][35][36][37] Achieving the MSSA process and thus the opportunity for exploring the characteristics of ILs on multiscale are greatly demanding.…”

“…[38][39][40][41][42] To depict clear pictures of the MSSA and MSS processes, and also to understand the physicochemical characteristics of ILs not only on the microscopic scale but also on mesoscopic and macroscopic scales, we plan to carry out a systematic investigation in this work on the basis of our preliminary results. 31 It is believed that insights into the MSSA and MSS processes will pave the way, to a certain extent, for the development of supramolecular chemistry as a bridge linking the microscopic and macroscopic worlds.…”