Studies of the chemical properties of the heaviest elements have always been difficult due to the short half-lives and low cross sections involved. To solve this problem, atom-at-a-time methods are necessary to determine the properties of short-lived isotopes. Extremely fast kinetics for the chemical reactions studied (on the same order as the nuclide’s half-life) are required, and the system should have potential for automation. [1] One potential technique, extraction chromatography, offers a way of investigating rutherfordium’s properties, without the solvent waste generated in liquid-liquid extractions. A rapid method involving the use of a ligand with high intragroup selectivity is necessary to discover more about element 104. Studies with the homologs of rutherfordium, zirconium and hafnium, can be performed using liquid-liquid extractions as well as extraction chromatography. From literature reviews, tertiary amines and phosphates show promise in extracting group 4 elements. In particular, tris(2-ethylhexyl)amine (TEHA) and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate(TEHP) can be used to selectively extract zirconium and hafnium from a chloride matrix. [2] Results of a study investigating the solvent extraction and the use of extraction chromatography resin of Zr and Hf from various mineral acids by these two ligands will be presented. The development of an extraction system for rutherfordium based on these extractants can help to further elucidate its properties. References [1] R. Sudowe, et al. R. Acta. 94 (2006) 123–9 [2] R. Banda, et al. J Rad Nucl Chem. (2013) 13-18

Development of a chemical system for rutherfordium using TEHA and TEHP

251st National Meeting (2016)

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