Zirconium bistriazolylpyridine phosphonate materials for efficient, selective An(III)/Ln(III) separations

Direct synthesis of ZrCl4 and bistriazolylpyridine phosphonate has produced novel sorbent materials that, for the first time, demonstrate selective extraction of Am(III) in the presence of excess Eu(III). Further, the high ligand content of these materials affords them high extraction efficiencies.