LUMINESCENCE STUDY OF EU(III) COMPLEXES EXTRACTED IN THE ORGANIC-PHASE

Luminescence lifetimes have been measured for Eu(III) extracted into benzene solutions. The extractants were HDEHP, HTTA, and mixtures of HTTA with crown ethers, TBP, and TOPO. The results were consistent with no residual hydration for Eu(DEHP)3 and three molecules of hydration for Eu(TTA)3. The Eu(TTA)3. (TOPO)n (n = 1, 2) complexes have one water molecule or less. The hydration numbers from the luminescence lifetimes compare well with the values from Karl Fischer titrations. The hydration of the crown ether complexes can be related to the degree of steric hindrance by the aliphatic or aromatic groups attached to the crown ethers.