Synergism in the extraction of uranium (VI) by a mixture of oxine and β-diketones

Abstract

Extraction of uranium (VI) in presence of a mixture of oxine and β-diketones, viz, benzoyltrifluoroacetone, trifluoroacetylacetone, thenoyltrifluoroacetone and furoyltrifluoroacetone was studied. Extraction was found to be higher than that for oxine or β-diketone alone and the loss of uranium due to precipitation by oxine was eliminated completely. The synergistic species was found to be a mixed chelate and the nature of the species and equilibrium constant were evaluated. A correlation between the two phase stability constants and dissociation constants and partition coefficients of the β-diketones was also established.