Highly efficient actinide(III)/lanthanide(III) separation by novel pillar[5]arene-based picolinamide ligands: A study on synthesis, solvent extraction and complexation

Selective extraction of highly radiotoxic actinides(III) is an important and challenging task in nuclear wastewater treatment. Many proposed ligands containing S or P atoms have drawbacks including high reagent consumption and possible secondary pollution after incineration. The present work reports five novel pillar[5]arene-based extractants that are anchored with picolinamide substituents of different electronic nature by varying spacer. These ligands reveal highly efficient separation of actinides(III) over lanthanides(III). Specifically, almost all of these ligands could extract Am(III) over Eu(III) selectively at around pH 3.0 (SFAm/Eu>11) with fast extraction kinetics. Variation of the pyridine nitrogen basicity via changing para-substitution leads to an increase in the distribution ratios by a factor of over 300 times for Am(III) with an electron-withdrawing group compared to those with an electron donating group. Investigation of complexation mechanism by slope analysis, NMR, IR, EXAFS, and DFT techniques indicates that each ligand binds two metal ions by pyridine nitrogen and amide oxygen. Finally, these ligands do not show obvious decrease in both extraction and separation ability after being exposed to 250 kGy absorbed gamma radiation. These results demonstrate the potential application of pillar[5]arene-picolinamides for actinide(III) separation. [Display omitted] •Five novel pillar[5]arene-based picolinamide extractants were prepared.•These ligands show high selectivity toward Am(III) over Eu(III).•The electron-withdrawing effect significantly increases the distribution ratio.•These ligands show excellent resistance under 250 kGy gamma radiation.