Solvent penetration and sterical stabilization of reverse aggregates based on the DIAMEX process extracting molecules: Consequences for the third phase formation

Studies on third phase formation during the extraction of nitric acid by malonamide extractants in various diluents are investigated. This third phase transition is studied from a fundamental point of view, combining vapor pressure osmometry, phase diagram, and scattering studies. The organization of the organic phases of the malonamides/alkane/water/nitric acid systems was studied at three scales: 1/at a molecular scale by determining the compositions of the extracted complexes; 2/at a macroscopic scale by determining the phase transition boundaries quantified by the limiting organic concentration (LOC) of solutes; and 3/at a supramolecular scale by analyzing the organization of the species in the organic phases (i.e. measuring the critical micellization concentration, the aggregation number, and the interactions between the aggregates). The instability (third phase apparition) has a supramolecular origin: it is a long range attraction between polar cores of the reverse micelles formed by the extracting agent. Water and nitric acid extraction are decoupled from these interactions. The alkyl chains of the extractant and the diluent play a symmetrical role in the physical stability of the organic phase: decreasing the diluent chain length or increasing the chain length of the complexing agent both promotes phase stability, i.e. they increase the LOC. We demonstrate here that this effect is the same as the effect observed and known for all other w/o reverse micelles: chains protruding from any aggregate stabilize polar solute in oil and shorts oil penetrate and swells the reverse micelles apolar layer.