In this study the coordination structure and chemistry of Eu(III) and Cm(III) in the ionic liquid C(4)mimTf(2)N (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) was investigated by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The dissolution of 1 x 10(-2) M Eu(CF(3)SO(3))(3) and 1 x 10(-7) M Cm(ClO(4))(3) in C(4)mimTf(2)N leads to the formation of two species for each cation with fluorescence emission lifetimes of 2.5 +/- 0.2 ms and 1.0 +/- 0.3 ms for the Eu-species and 1.0 +/- 0.3 ms and 300.0 +/- 50 micros for the Cm-species. The interpretation of the TRLFS data indicates a comparable coordination for both the lanthanide and actinide cation in this ionic liquid. The quenching influence of Cu(II) on the fluorescence emission of Eu(III) and Cm(III) was also measured by TRLFS. While Cu(ii) does not quench the Cm(III) fluorescence emission in C(4)mimTf(2)N the Eu(III) fluorescence emission lifetime for both Eu-species in C(4)mimTf(2)N decreases with increasing Cu(II) concentration. Stern-Volmer constants were calculated (k(SV) = 1.54 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and k(SV) = 2.70 x 10(6) M(-1)). By contrast, the interaction of Cu(II) with Eu(III) and Cm(III) in water leads to a quenching of both the lanthanide and actinide fluorescence. The calculated Stern-Volmer constants are 1.20 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for Eu(III) and 1.27 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for Cm(III). The investigations show, while the chemistry of trivalent lanthanides and actinides is similar in an aqueous system it is dramatically different in ionic liquids. This difference in chemical behavior may provide the opportunity for a separation of lanthanides and actinides with regard to the reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

For the long-term performance assessment of nuclear waste repositories, knowledge about the interactions of actinide ions with mineral surfaces such as iron oxides is imperative. The mobility of released radionuclides is strongly dependent on the sorption/desorption processes at these surfaces and on their incorporation into the mineral structure. In this study the interaction of Am(III) with 6-line-ferrihydrite (6LFh) was investigated by EXAFS spectroscopy. At low pH values (pH 5.5), as well at higher pH values (pH 8.0), Am(III) sorbs as a bidentate corner-sharing species onto the surface. Investigations of the interaction of Am(III) with Fh coated silica colloids prove the sorption onto the iron coating and not onto the silica substrate. Hence, the presence of Fh, even as sediment coating, is the dominant sorption surface. Upon heating, Fh is transformed into goethite and hematite as shown by TEM and IR measurements. The results of the fit to the EXAFS data indicate the release of sorbed Am(III) at pH 5.5 during the transformation and likely a partial incorporation of Am into the Fh transformation products at pH 8.0.

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The solvation of the Eu-perchlorate (ClO4–) and triflate (CF3SO3–, OTf–) salts as well as of Cm(ClO4)3 and Am(ClO4)3 in the ionic liquid C4mimTf2N (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) has been comparatively investigated by application of laser fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, the ClO4–/OTf– ligand exchange reaction for the two actinide cations has been analyzed by the same spectroscopic techniques. A structural model for the different complexes was determined by the interpretation of the spectroscopic data. The lanthanide and the two actinide cations show the same coordination in C4mimTf2N. Moreover, a sequence for the strength of complexing ligands could be deduced from the spectroscopic data for the lanthanide and the two actinides: ClO4–>OTf–≥Tf2N–>H2O