Comparative study on the extraction performance of Nd(III) by isomeric unsymmetrical diglycoamides

In order to further study the structure-performance relationship of unsymmetrical diglycolamides. In this work, two types of unsymmetrical diglycolamides (Structure A : N,N’ -dimethyl- N,N’ -didecyl diglycoamide, L I , N,N’ -dimethyl- N,N’ -didodecyl diglycoamide, L III ; Structure B : N,N -dimethyl- N’,N’ -didecyl diglycoamide, L II , N,N -dimethyl- N’,N’ -didodecyl diglycoamide, L IV ), which are geometrical isomers each other, were synthesized, and their extraction performances in 40/60 (v/v)% n-octanol/kerosene were studied and compared. The related results reveal that the size of the alkyl substituents attached on the amide N atoms can influence the extractant performance of the extractant, and the difference in the geometric structure of extractants can lead to the differences in their extraction performances.