Cobaltabis(dicarbollide) derivatives as extractants for europium from nuclear wastes

Abstract

Carbon substituted derivatives of [3,3′-Co(1-Me-2-R-1,2-C₂B₉H₉)₂]^– incorporating lipophilic chains [R = (CH₂)₃O(CH₂)₂OMe 1, (CH₂)₃OCH₂CHMe₂ 2, (CH₂)₆O(CH₂)₃Me 3, (CH₂)₃Me 4], are synthesized for the first time and tested for extraction of ¹⁵²Eu; compound 3 showed the best performance, and it proved to have higher efficiency in transport at low acidity than the well known calixarene derivatives.