Radiation effects on hydrophobic ionic liquid [C4mim][NTf2] during extraction of strontium ions

The applications of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) in separation of high level radioactive nuclides demand a comprehensive knowledge of the stability and metal ion extraction of RTILs under radiation. Herein, we assessed the influence of gamma-irradiation on the [C(4)mim][NTf(2)]-based extraction system, where [C(4)mim](+) is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium and [NTf(2)](-) is bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, by solvent extraction of Sr(2+) using irradiated [C(4)mim][NTf(2)] in combination with dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6). It was found that the degree of extraction for Sr(2+) from water to irradiated [C(4)mim][NTf(2)] decreased compared with that to unirradiated [C(4)mim][NTf(2)], and the decrement enhanced obviously with increasing dose. NMR spectroscopic probe analysis revealed the formation of acids during irradiation of [C(4)mim][NTf(2)]. The decrease of Sr(2+) partitioning in irradiated [C(4)mim][NTf(2)] is attributed to the competition between H(+) with Sr(2+) to interact with DCH18C6. Accordingly, washing irradiated [C(4)mim][NTf(2)] with water gives a simple way of ionic liquid recycling. Furthermore, the degree of extraction for Sr(2+) from 3 mol.L(-1) nitric acid solution to [C(4)mim][NTf(2)] is independent of the irradiation of [C(4)mim][NTf(2)] since the amount of the radiation-generated H(+) is negligible in such a high acidic solution.