ABSTRACT
When compared to conventional solvent-extraction processes, which typically employ a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon diluent and a polar phase modi er to improve solvation, using polar ILs as carriers for macrocyclic agents offers the promise of improved economics. Higher distribution coef - cients (DM’s) are attainable for a given extractant concentration, so that less of the expensive macrocyclic agents are used to obtain the same level of decontamination. Greater exibility in process ow-sheet design can be achieved if the IL-based process can be made tunable to allow for a larger ratio of DM between extraction and stripping. The general simpli cation of the process with a smaller number of components is possible because a single IL could replace a two-component modi ed diluent. In addition, the low volatility of ILs means that they would not need to be periodically replaced on account of evaporative losses, as would occur with hydrocarbon diluents typically used in conventional solvent extraction.
