Extraction of bismuth from nitric acid media using 1-octanol and

hydrophobic liquid binary mixtures

Amy L. Vonder Haar 1,2, Evgeny E. Tereshatov 1, Charles M. Folden III 1

1Texas A&M University, Cyclotron Institute2Montclair State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Introduction• Astatine for radiotherapy

209Bi(α, 2n)211At

211At half life: 7.2 hChallenges: distillation, type of acid used, need to understand Bi behavior

• 207Bi • Long half life (32.2 y)• Radioactivity

increases sensitivity

Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Experimental Methods• Aqueous/organic phases• Extraction – moving a

molecule/complex/ion of interest from one phase to the other

• Distribution ratio (D value)

D = #$%&'()*#)*'($%&

E. E. Tereshatov, M. Yu. Boltoeva, and C. M. Folden III, Green Chem., 18, 4616 (2016).E. E. Tereshatov et. al., The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 120 (9) (2016).

NaI Detector• 207Bi decays by electron

capture (and very minor positron emission)

• Gamma rays are weak • Used instead:

characteristic X-ray• How the detector works:

scintillation using NaIcrystal

K. S. Bhatki, Radiochemistry of Bismuth (Technical Information Center, ERDA, 1977).

207Bi source material

~570 keV (98%)

~1064 keV (77%)

~1770 keV (9%)

Characteristic

X-ray

1-octanol• 1-octanol

• Hydrophobic, known to extract 211At

• Potential for automation

• Future work –mechanism

• Issue: it’s a traditional organic solvent

C. Ekberg, H. Jensen, S. P. Mezyk, B. J. Mincher, and G. Skarnemark, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 314, 235 (2017).

Lines are drawn to guide the eye.

Hydrophobic Liquid Binary Mixtures

• Green chemistry: non-volatile, reduced toxicity, biodegradable

• A new form of organic solvent –never before used with Bi or At

Mixtures and Properties

J. M. Edgecomb, E. E. Tereshatov, M. Boltoeva, C. M. Folden III (in preparation).

Results

Lines are drawn to guide the eye.

Summary and Conclusions• Potential to make 211At viable for

radiotherapy. Expand uses of TAMU cyclotron.

• 1-octanol shows promise as a solvent that extracts At and not Bi

• Liquid binary mixtures provide more insight into Bi behavior in solution

• Future work: mechanisms, introduction of At into extractions

Acknowledgements• The authors thank NSF grant PHY-

1659847, DOE grant DE-FG02-93ER40773 and Dr. Sherry Yennelloand the TAMU Nuclear Solutions Institute for support.

Questions?

Kinetics Data

0 5 10 15 203x10-3

3.2x10-3

3.4x10-3

3.6x10-3

3.8x10-3

4x10-3

4.2x10-3

1-octan ol individu al D valu e Average D va lue

Dist

ribut

ion

ratio

Homogenization time (min)

20 7Bi extraction from nitric acid in to 1-oct anol -

kin etic te st for ho mogenization time op tim ization

0 5 10 15 20

9x10-1

9.5x10-1

100

1.05x100

I:GS ind ividual D value Average D va lue

Dist

ribut

ion

ratio

Homogenization time (min)

2 07Bi extraction from nitric acid into ibup rofe n: gra pe smell 1:9 -

kinetic test for homog enizat ion tim e optimiza tion

Lines are drawn to guide the eye.

Additional Results

0 1 2 3

4x10-2

6x10-2

8x10-2

10-1

1.2x10-1

1.4x10-11.6x10-11.8x10-1

2x10-1

Dist

ribut

ion

ratio

[HNO3]init (M)

207Bi extraction from nitric acid into water-saturated

DL-menthol: lidocaine 1:1

0 1 2 3

10-3

5x10-3

Dist

ribut

ion

ratio

[HNO3]init (M)

207Bi extraction from nitric acid into grape smell: DL-menthol 1:1

Lines are drawn to guide the eye.