In an effort to meet the growing demand for more rapid separation methods, this work reports the development and thermodynamic characterizations of lanthanide chlorides as a vehicle for the rapid separation of nuclear fission products.  These compounds can be rapidly separated from each other via gas phase chromatographic separations due to differences in adsorption enthalpy. Because adsorption and sublimation thermodynamics are linearly correlated, there is considerable motivation to determine sublimation enthalpies to improve the ability to predict separations effectiveness. A method using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is employed in this study on thirteen lanthanide chlorides. Sublimation enthalpies are determined using the Langmuir method involving isothermal jump heating. An empirical correlation is used to estimate adsorption enthalpies of lanthanide complexes on a quartz column from the sublimation data. TGA-MS and melting point analysis are used to confirm sublimation as well as confirm the stability of the compound through the sublimation region. Further characterization of the lanthanide halide is necessary due to a possible side reaction involving lanthanide oxychloride formation upon heating.<br/>

Characterization of lanthanide chlorides for nuclear forensics

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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