An investigation of the radiochemical stability of ionic liquids

Donald Allen; Graham Baston; Antonia E. Bradley; Tony Gorman; Andy Haile; Ian Hamblett; Justine E. Hatter; Matthew J. F. Healey; Brian Hodgson; Robert Lewin; Kevin V. Lovell; Bill Newton; William R. Pitner; David W. Rooney; David Sanders; Kenneth R. Seddon; Howard E. Sims; Robert C. Thied

doi:10.1039/B111042J

An investigation of the radiochemical stability of ionic liquids

Donald Allen,^a Graham Baston,^b Antonia E. Bradley,^c Tony Gorman,^a Andy Haile,^d Ian Hamblett,^a Justine E. Hatter,^d Matthew J. F. Healey,^e Brian Hodgson,^a Robert Lewin,^d Kevin V. Lovell,^e Bill Newton,^f William R. Pitner,^c David W. Rooney,^g David Sanders,^c Kenneth R. Seddon,*^h Howard E. Sims^b and Robert C. Thied^d

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, UK

^b Nuclear Science, AEA Technology, 220 Harwell, Oxfordshire, Didcot, UK

^c The School of Chemistry, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK

^d Research and Technology, British Nuclear Fuels, Sellafield, Cumbria, Seascale, UK

^e J. J. Thompson Irradiation Laboratory, Royal Military College of Science, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, Swindon, UK

^f Newton Systems, Heron’s Reach, 382 Mossy Lea Road, Lancashire, Wrightington, UK

^g The School of Chemical Engineering, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK

^h The Quill Research Centre, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK
E-mail: k.seddon@qub.ac.uk

Abstract

Ionic liquids have been considered for their potential applications within the nuclear fuel cycle. If ionic liquids are to be successful in their application as solvents for highly radioactive materials in any future process, there will be a requirement for them to be robust to high radiation doses. A preliminary assessment of the radiation stability of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cation based ionic liquids containing nitrate and chloride anions has been performed. The results of radiolysis studies are reported, in which the samples were exposed to alpha radiation from a tandem Van der Graaff generator, beta radiation from a linear accelerator and gamma radiation from cobalt 60 sources. These results suggest that their stability is similar to that of benzene and that they are much more stable than mixtures of tributylphosphate and odourless kerosene under similar irradiation conditions. The radiolysis of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cation based ionic liquids reflects their combination of the properties of a salt, an alkane and an aromatic. They appear to be relatively radiation resistant and there is certainly no major decomposition of the organic component.

Green Chemistry

An investigation of the radiochemical stability of ionic liquids

Abstract

Article information

Download Citation

Permissions

An investigation of the radiochemical stability of ionic liquids

Social activity

Search articles by author

Spotlight

Advertisements