Open Access Article
Hirokazu Narita
*a,
Motoki Maedab,
Chiharu Tokorob,
Tomoya Suzuki
a,
Mikiya Tanakac,
Hideaki Shiwakud and
Tsuyoshi Yaitad
aGlobal Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan. E-mail: hirokazu-narita@aist.go.jp
bSchool of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
cNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8560, Japan
dMaterials Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), 1-1-1 Koto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
First published on 6th June 2023
Here, we investigated the mechanism underlying the extraction of Se(IV) and Se(VI) from aqueous HCl solutions by N-2-ethylhexyl-bis(N-di-2-ethylhexyl-ethylamide)amine (EHBAA). In addition to examining extraction behavior, we also elucidated structural properties of the dominant Se species in solution. Two types of aqueous HCl solutions were prepared by dissolving a SeIV oxide or a SeVI salt. X-ray absorption near edge structure analyses revealed that Se(VI) was reduced to Se(IV) in 8 M HCl. Using 0.5 M EHBAA, ∼50% of Se(VI) was extracted from 0.5 M HCl. In contrast, Se(IV) was hardly extracted from 0.5 to 5 M HCl; however, at molar concentrations above 5 M, the extraction efficiency of Se(IV) increased drastically, reaching ∼85%. Slope analyses for the distribution ratios of Se(IV) in 8 M HCl and Se(VI) in 0.5 M HCl showed that apparent stoichiometries of Se(IV) or Se(VI) to EHBAA were 1
:
1 and 1
:
2, respectively. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that the inner-sphere of the Se(IV) and Se(VI) complexes extracted with EHBAA was [SeOCl2] and [SeO4]2−, respectively. Together, these results indicate that Se(IV) is extracted from 8 M HCl with EHBAA via a solvation-type reaction, whereas Se(VI) is extracted from 0.5 M HCl via an anion-exchange-type reaction.
Many microextraction approaches have been reported for the solvent extraction of trace amounts of Se from media such as food and environmental water.7 However, approaches for the extraction of Se from highly acidic solutions are limited. Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) has been successfully used for solvent extraction of Se(IV) from HCl solution.8–10 Interestingly, Chowdhury and Sanyal9 reported that the dominant complex extracted changes depending on the concentration of the HCl solution, with SeOCl2(TBP)2 being extracted from 3 to 6 M HCl and H2SeOCl4(TBP)2 being extracted from 6 to 10 M HCl. A TBP analog, tri-iso-butyl phosphate, has also been shown to extract Se(IV) from chloride aqueous solution at around pH 8.5.11 A protonated N-n-octylaniline has been shown to form an ion-pair complex with [HSeO3]−.12 In contrast, diammoniumcalix[4]arene has been shown to extract Se(VI) via ion-pair formation with [HSeO4]− or [SeO4]2−.13,14 The reactions of these extractants with Se were estimated mainly by slope analyses of the distribution ratio of Se between the organic and aqueous phases. Moving forward, direct structural information of the dominant Se species in the organic and aqueous phases is needed to understand the extraction behavior in more detail.
In acidic chloride solutions, Se(IV) and Se(VI) form selenous acid (H2SeO3) and selenic acid (H2SeO4), respectively, and dissociate to anions such as HSeO3−, SeO32−, HSeO4−, and SeO42− with a decrease in the acid concentration.15 For Se(IV), it has been suggested that an SeOCl2 complex forms in highly concentrated HCl solutions (4–12 M), and at even higher concentrations (∼15 M) SeCl5− is produced.16 Compared with the number of reports providing structural information for some precious metals and base metals, which are present in the anode slimes, there are fewer reports providing structural information about Se ions in acidic chloride solutions. Knowledge of the structure of Se ions in the aqueous phase is needed for the development of new extractants because extraction type is highly dependent on the dominant Se complex in solution.
Our group has been examining the possibility of using amide-containing tertiary amines (ACTAs) as extractants of metal ions.17–22 ACTAs efficiently extract chlorometalates via an anion-exchange reaction because of their stable protonation ability.21 They also extract rare earth elements from HNO3 via a solvation reaction.22 In particular, ACTAs have excellent extraction efficiency for platinum-group metals from HCl solutions. For example, diamide- and triamide-type ACTAs are able to extract [RhCl5(H2O)]2−, an aqua–chloro complex, despite this complex generally being considered unextractable.18,21 ACTAs are also much more efficient extractants of metal complex anions than the typical tertiary amine extractant tri-n-octyl amine (TOA). We therefore expected that ACTAs could be used to efficiently extract Se from HCl.
Here, we examined the extraction of Se(IV) and Se(VI) from aqueous HCl solutions by using a diamide-containing tertiary amine, N-2-ethylhexyl-bis(N-di-2-ethylhexyl-ethylamide)amine (EHBAA) (Fig. 1). We discuss the underlying extraction mechanism based on a slope analysis of the distribution ratio of Se ions between the organic and aqueous phases and structural data for the dominant Se complexes in the solutions obtained by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis. To allow comparison, the efficacies of the extractants TOA and TBP were also examined.
| E% = ([Se]eq,org/[Se]init,aq) × 100 = {([Se]init,aq − [Se]eq,aq)/([Se]init,aq)} × 100 | (1) |
| D = [Se]eq,org/[Se]eq,aq = ([Se]init,aq − [Se]eq,aq)/[Se]eq,aq | (2) |
XAFS measurements were performed at the BL11XU beamline of SPring-8 (8 GeV at ∼99 mA). Synchrotron X-ray radiation was monochromatized using Si(111) crystal monochromators. Se K-edge XAFS spectra were collected in transmission mode using two ion chambers (both filled with N2) at room temperature (∼25 °C). The beam size on the sample was about 1 × 1 mm2. The SeO2 was used for energy calibration prior to X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements; the peak top of the Se K-edge (white line) was aligned to 12
664 eV.23 XAFS data were collected three times and then averaged for each sample.
Data processing was performed with the EXAFS data analysis software package WinXAS version 4.0.24 Theoretical phases and amplitudes were calculated by using the software FEFF 8.25 For the FEFF calculations, the crystal structures of (SeIVO3)2− in [Na2SeO3],26 (SeVIO4)2− in [(NH4)4H2(SeO4)3],27 and (SeIVOCl2) in [SbCl5·SeOCl2]28 were used as model compounds. Multiple scattering paths were ignored because their contribution was not significant for the studied systems. Thus, we considered only single scattering paths: Se–O and/or Se–Cl. The k-range for the Fourier transforms was 4–12 Å−1 for SolA0.5H and 4–13 Å−1 for the others, and the curve-fitting R-range was 0.5–2.5 Å for SolA8H and ExSolA, and 0.8–2.0 Å for the others. The coordination geometry of Se in 0.5 M HCl solution (SolA0.5H) is tetragonal SeO3 because SeO32−, HSeO4−, and/or H2SeO4 are present.15 Therefore, the coordination number was kept constant at 3 and the amplitude reduction factor, S02, was refined; the obtained S02 value (0.86(3)) was used for all fits. This value was considered reasonable because the obtained number of correlations (coordination number), N, for Se–O for the solid reference samples, SeIVO2 and Na2SeVIO4·10H2O, was 3.1(3) and 4.0(4), respectively (Fig. S3 and Table S1†). The structural parameters (N; bond distance, r (Å); Debye–Waller factor squared, σ2 (Å2); and the shift in threshold energy, ΔE0 (eV)) were allowed to vary in the fit; the same ΔE0 value was used for each shell. The difference in bond lengths between Se–O and Se–Cl was distinguishable because their difference is more than the smallest separation,29 given by Δr = π/2Δk (Δk ≈ 9 Å−1, Δr ≈ 0.17 Å). The fitting quality was checked by using the R-factor: {Σ|k3χ(k)obs − k3χ(k)calc|/Σ|k3χ(k)obs|} × 100.
![]() | ||
| Fig. 3 Se K-edge XANES spectra for the aqueous solutions SolA0.5H, SolA8H, SolB0.5H, and SolB8H and the reference solids SeIVO2 and Na2SeVIO4·10H2O. | ||
The time for this reduction to occur was investigated by XANES measurement using SolB8H solutions that were left to stand before analysis (Fig. S1†). The spectra show that Se(VI) was reduced to Se(IV) within 12 h after dissolution.
Fig. 4 shows the Se K-edge k3-weighted EXAFS spectra and corresponding Fourier transforms for SolA0.5H, SolA8H, and SolB0.5H. An intense peak seen at ∼1.3 Å in each spectrum (Fig. 4B) was assigned to the Se–O correlation. For SolA8H, in addition to the intense peak, there was a small peak at ∼2 Å, which was assigned to the Se–Cl correlation. The curve-fitting results are shown in Table 1. According to the pKa1 value of selenous acid (∼2.5),15 H2SeO3 is predominant in 0.5 M HCl solution. In contrast, in >7 M HCl solution both [SeOCl2] and [H2SeO3] are present, and in 15 M HCl solution SeCl5− is dominant.16 For SolA0.5H, both the N value (3) and Se–O bond length (1.71(1) Å) were almost the same as those for the crystal structure of [SeO3]−.26 The small peak at ∼2 Å for SolA8H was confirmed to represent the Se–Cl correlation by the obtained structural parameters. The obtained N values for Se–O and Se–Cl were 1.8(1) and 1.1(1), which although not consistent with the structure of the [SeOCl2] complex, are consistent with a mixture of [SeOCl2] and [H2SeO3]. Although Raman studies have inferred the existence of a [SeO2Cl]− complex anion,32 that study conducted measurements not in HCl aqueous solution but in solid and acetonitrile. For SolB0.5H, the curve-fitting results (Se–O: N = 4.4(4), r = 1.633(4) Å) indicated that the inner-sphere structure is tetrahedral SeO4, which is consistent with the XANES spectrum. According to the pKa2 of selenic acid (1.6–2.0),15 both [SeO4]2− and [HSeO4]− would exist in low-pH solutions.
| Na | rb (Å) | σ2 c (Å2) |
ΔEd (eV) | R-factore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a Coordination number.b Bond distance (Å).c Debye–Waller factor squared (Å2).d The shift in threshold energy (eV).e Residual: R-factor = Σ|k3χ(k)obs − k3χ(k)calc|/Σ|k3χ(k)obs| × 100.f Fixed parameter.g Ref. 26.h Averaged bond distances.i Ref. 28.j Ref. 33.k Ref. 27. Estimated errors are shown in parentheses. | ||||||
| SolA0.5H | Se–O | 3f | 1.71(1) | 0.0048(9) | 9(1) | 18 |
| SolA8H | Se–O | 1.8(1) | 1.70(1) | 0.0016(5) | 5.8(5) | 7.9 |
| Se–Cl | 1.1(1) | 2.29(1) | 0.0065(6) | |||
| SolB0.5H | Se–O | 4.4(4) | 1.633(4) | 0.0014(6) | 8(1) | 13 |
| ExSolA | Se–O | 1.0(2) | 1.64(2) | 0.002(1) | 5(1) | 14 |
| Se–Cl | 2.0(3) | 2.28(2) | 0.006 (1) | |||
| ExSolB | Se–O | 3.8(3) | 1.632(4) | 0.0018(5) | 5(1) | 8.5 |
| Crystal structures | ||||||
| [Na2SeO3]g | Se–O | 3 | 1.71h | |||
| [SbCl5·SeOCl2]i | Se–O | 1 | 1.69 | |||
| Se–Cl | 2 | 2.12h | ||||
| [TiCl3(SeOCl2)2]2(μ-O)j | Se–O | 1 | 1.644 | |||
| Se–Cl | 2 | 2.145h | ||||
| [(NH4)4H2(SeO4)3]k | Se–O | 4 | 1.64h | |||
:
2, which is different from that for SolA8H (2
:
1). In the reported crystal structures of [SeOCl2], the bond lengths of Se–O (1.644–1.69 Å) and Se–Cl (2.12–2.145 Å) vary slightly.28,32 The parameter of Se–Cl obtained in the present study is longer than these values, suggesting that the slight structural change of the SeOCl2 moiety in solution. In contrast, the XANES and EXAFS spectra for ExSolB are very similar to those for SolB0.5H, which is consistent with the obtained structural parameters indicating the presence of SeO4, as was observed for SolB0.5H.
:
1 Se(IV)
:
EHBAA and 1
:
2 Se(VI)
:
EHBAA complexes are formed, respectively. Since EHBAA is readily protonated as contacting with HCl solution,19,21 ion-pair formation with a complex anion preferentially occurs. Also, neutral complexes may be extracted by EHBAA via a solvation reaction.22 For the EHBAA–SolA8H system, the EXAFS results suggested that a SeOCl2 moiety is dominant in the organic phase. Therefore, the extraction reaction can be presented as| EHBAA + HCl ⇄ EHBAA·HCl | (3) |
| (EHBAA·HCl) + [SeOCl2] ⇄ [SeOCl2](EHBAA·HCl) | (4) |
![]() | ||
| Fig. 6 Dependence of distribution ratio of Se(IV) and Se(VI) on EHBAA concentration. Organic phase, EHBAA pre-equilibrated with 0.5 or 8 M HCl; aqueous phase, SolA8H or SolB0.5H, [Se] = 0.001 M. | ||
The SolA8H solution probably contains neutral [H2SeO4] and [SeOCl2], as mentioned in Section 3.2. The very low extraction percentage of Se in the HCl concentration range of 0.5–5 M, indicates that [H2SeO4], which was the dominant species at those concentrations, was unextractable. Although [SeOCl2] is not anionic, a higher reactivity can be expected than that of [H2SeO4].1 A previous study using TBP also showed that TBP did not extract [H2SeO4], but instead it extracted [SeOCl2] and [H2SeOCl4].9
Regarding the protonated structure of EHBAA,21 an H+ is chelated by two amide oxygen atoms and an amine nitrogen atom, and a Cl− weakly bonds to an array of polarized C–Hδ+ units on the opposite side of EHBAA from the protonation site. Considering the stable protonation ability of EHBAA, solvation with [SeOCl2] possibly occurs at the site opposite the diamide oxygen atoms. The crystal structure of [TiCl3(SeOCl2)2]2(μ-O)·CH2Cl2 has three long-distance Se⋯Cl interactions (2.930–3.465 Å) and two direct Se–Cl bonds (avg. 2145 Å).33 The Cl− in the EHBAA·HCl complex might have a weak interaction with [SeOCl2] at the outer-sphere of the Se, although the interaction was too weak to produce a peak in the EXAFS spectrum.
For the EHBAA–SolB0.5H system, the EXAFS results show that SeO4 was dominant in both the organic and aqueous phases. In the aqueous phase, both [HSeO4]− and [SeO4]2− existed, as mentioned in Section 3.2. Two protonated EHBAA may preferentially extract a [SeO4]2− complex via an anion-exchange reaction, as supported by the formation of a 1
:
2 complex in the organic phase. In addition, the decreasing extraction percentage of Se(VI) in the low HCl concentration range of 0.5–5 M (Fig. 2B) probably stems from the change in the dominant Se species in the order of [SeO4]2− → [HSeO4]− → [H2SeO4].15 Similarly, the low extraction percentage reported for TBP in this low concentration region can be explained by its lower basicity (i.e., its low protonation ability).30 Therefore, the extraction reaction of Se(VI) from 0.5 M HCl can be represented as
| [SeO4]2− + 2(EHBAA·HCl) ⇄ [SeO4]·(EHBAA·H)2 + 2Cl− | (5) |
:
1 and 1
:
2 Se
:
EHBAA complexes were dominant in the organic phase of the SolA8H and SolB0.5H systems. The obtained results suggested that the dominant Se complexes with EHBAA are [SeOCl2](EHBAA·HCl) for SolA8H and [SeO4](EHBAA·H)2 for SolB0.5H; the former was a solvation-type extraction, and the latter was an anion-exchange-type.
Footnote |
| † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra01341c |
| This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023 |