In the PUREX process an organic solution composed of 30% tributyl phosphate (TBP) in a hydrocarbon solvent, is used to extract uranium as UO2(NO3)2·2TBP. Previous works have examined the influence of highly acidic media in ion extraction as well as concentration dependence of the amphiphilic extractants upon the distribution coefficient. On the other hand few studies have examined the affect of NaNO3 solutions and amphiphilic solutes upon the underlying interactions at the aqueous:organic interface. In order to enhance the performance of solvent extraction one must know how individual solutes effect the local interfacial properties of binary organic:aqueous systems. Toward this end we investigate how amphiphilic solutes with varying solubility in water (solutes tri-butyl phosphate (TBP), hydrogen di-butyl phosphate (HDBP), and di-hydrogen mono-butyl phosphate (H2MBP)) as well as NaNO3 in 0-10 M solutions impact interfacial properties such as surface tension, water orientation and molecular properties such as microsolvation. Our results have revealed that TBP can change the microsolvation events within 20 Å from the P-atom, while different concentrations of NaNO3 affect the surface tension but they do not impact upon microsolvation events. These studies suggest that amphiphilic TBP not only binds uranium ions but also may alter the permeability of aqueous:organic interfaces.

Role of ionic solute vs. amphiphilic solute on local interfacial properties

249th National Meeting (2015)

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