Berkelium nitrate complex formation using a solvent extraction technique

Abstract

Summary The extraction of Bk(III) into an organic phase consisting of 2,6-bis-(benzoxazolyl)-4-dodecyloxylpyridine, 2-bromodecanoic acid and tert-butyl benzene as a function of nitrate ion concentration in the aqueous phase was studied in order to determine the stability constants of the formation of Bk nitrate complexes. Increasing the nitrate ion concentration in the aqueous phase will increase the nitrate complex formation and thus the extraction of metal ions will decrease. Measuring this decrease in distribution ratio and fitting the data points with an appropriate model gives the stability constants of the Bk nitrate complex formation.