COMPLEXATION OF AMERICIUM(III) WITH A DIAZA-CROWN ETHER

The aqueous phase complexation behaviour of trivalent americium in the presence of 1,10-diaza-4,7,13,16-tetraoxacyclooctadecane (kryptofix 2 2) was investigated by employing a solvent extraction tracer technique at a ligand-to-metal ratio as high as 10(5). The extraction behaviour was studied by using a liquid ion exchanger (dinonylnaphthalene sulph onic acid) both in high and low pH regions. Though no observable compl exation is detected at low pH (e.g. pH 2.0), measurable complex format ion was detected at higher pH values (log beta(L) = 6.05 +/- 0.30).