title: Structural clues to UO₂²⁺/VO₂⁺ competition in seawater extraction using amidoxime-based extractants.
abstract: Here we present the first structural comparison of amidoxime complexes of UO2(2+) and VO2(+) (the main competitor in the extraction of uranium from seawater using amidoxime-based sorbents) using a 4,5-di(amidoxime)-functionalized imidazole ligand. The amidoxime groups resist tautomerization in both cases and quite different coordination modes (chelating vs. bridging) are observed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Green Manufacturing and Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA. rdrogers@ua.edu.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Peter H K
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.forename: Robin D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rogers