Recently, new chemical systems such as room temperature ionic liquids, deep eutectic and low-transition-temperature mixtures are of major interest for studying a variety of chemical processes, including, for example, liquid-liquid extraction. Based on this new class of compounds, we have focused our efforts on development of a unique chemical procedure that might be applicable for superheavy element investigation. Homologs of element 113, nihonium, were chosen for such experiments. Results on indium and thallium behavior in these new chemical media will be presented. The latest generation of fluorinated ionic liquids is widely used for metal extraction mostly as a safe replacement of conventional solvents. However, it was found that pure ionic liquids may be both suitable in this process and possess the required selectivity. It was shown that pure ionic liquids can provide a separation factor of 108 between indium and thallium when the latter is oxidized to its +3 state. Different parameters such as aqueous phase acidity, oxidizing agent, ionic liquid structure and extraction kinetics were systematically investigated. The newest generation of deep eutectic and low-transition-temperature mixtures is also attractive for other applications, despite that these mixtures are mostly hydrophilic. However, hydrophobic mixtures are also available and the first results on metal transfer into these media will be presented. It was shown that tetraalkylammonium-based mixtures can provide a distribution ratio of indium at a level of &gt;103. The influence of hydrogen bond donor and acceptor (the main structural units of such mixtures) was also studied. Also, a mathematical model to describe indium and thallium behavior was developed for the chemical systems mentioned above to provide understanding of the extraction mechanisms. In both cases, it was shown that ion pair formation prevails, and the corresponding constants were estimated. To provide a knowledge transfer between ordinary liquid-liquid extraction and gas phase chemistry, new surfaces are being examined to optimize conditions for online experiments. These preliminary results will also be discussed.

New chemical media for superheavy element study

254th National Meeting (2017)

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