Novel hydrophilic bistriazolyl-phenanthroline ligands with improved solubility and performance in An/Ln separations

Two novel bistriazolyl-phenanthroline (BTrzPhen) ligands, bearing benzene-sulphonate (DS-BTrzPhen) and amino-acidic (DAA-BTrzPhen) hydrophilizing moieties were developed and found to be more soluble in aqueous acidic media with improved selectivity for Am( iii ) over Eu( iii ) in solvent extraction studies having SF Eu/Am values reaching >300. The remarkable activities of both ligands suggest that BTrzPhen ligands are generally still worth exploring and improving. Novel BTrzPhen ligands were developed and found to be more soluble in aqueous media with improved selectivity for minor actinides.