Two novel bistriazolyl-phenanthroline (BTrzPhen) ligands, bearing benzene-sulphonate (DS-BTrzPhen) and amino-acidic (DAA-BTrzPhen) hydrophilizing moieties were developed and found to be more soluble in aqueous acidic media with improved selectivity for Am(III) over Eu(III) in solvent extraction studies having SF_Eu/Am values reaching >300. The remarkable activities of both ligands suggest that BTrzPhen ligands are generally still worth exploring and improving.