HEAT-SENSITIVE COMPOUNDS HAVING A CLOUD POINT WHICH CAN BE USED AS EXTRACTANTS FOR THE SEPARATION OF METALS IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

摘要

The invention relates to a heat-sensitive compound which is soluble in water below a critical temperature, Tc, and insoluble in water above temperature Tc, said property being thermoreversible. The inventive compound is characterised in that it comprises a first amphiphilic, thermoreversible part which fits one of the following formulae (I) and (II): (formula), in which i is an integer from 1 to 20 and j is an integer from 3 to 30. Said compound can be used to extract a chemical species such as uranium.