SANAA NAÏT-TAHAR 1, MOHAMED A. DIDI 1*, DIDIER VILLEMIN 2 1. Tlemcen University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Separation and Purification Technologies, Box 119, Tlemcen University — 13000, Algeria
2. Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs de CAEN & Centre de Recherche, Université de Caen- Basse Normandie, LCMT, UMR CNRS 6507, Labex EMC3, Labex SynOrg, F-14050, Caen, France.
*Corresponding author: madidi13@yahoo.fr
Cloud point extraction (CPE) was used to extract uranium (VI) from an aqueous solution in acetate media. The methodology used is based on the formation of uranyl-ionic liquid (I) complexes and uranyl-D2EHPA soluble in a micellar phase of non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100). The uranium (VI) complexes are then extracted into the surfactant-rich phase at ambient temperature. The ionic liquid (IL) used as a chelating agent was synthesized and characterized in this study. It is composed of N-butyl N’-triethoxy methyl imidazolium cation and diethylhexylphosphate (D2EHPA-H) as anion. The effect of the IL on the extraction efficiency was studied in presence and in absence of IL’s cation in acetate medium.