The relative concentration of each lanthanide in uranium ore varies geographically and does not change during uranium processing. These lanthanide patterns serve as a nuclear forensic signature which can aid in determining the origin of uranium materials. Tetra-n-octyl diglycolamide (TODGA) has an unusually high extraction efficiency and selectivity for trivalent lanthanides. This amidic extractant has shown promise for actinide-lanthanide solvent extraction and extraction chromatographic based separations. However, obtaining the lanthanide pattern for uranium material requires intralanthanide separations. Adjacent lanthanide separations are notoriously difficult due their predominant trivalent oxidation state and similar ionic radii. One way to manipulate adjacent lanthanide separations is through the redox properties that some of these f-elements possess, such as the relatively stable divalent oxidation state of Eu. Using voltammetric methods, the Eu(III/II) redox couple was measured using TODGA physisorbed on ordered mesoporous carbon in a cavity microelectrode. These results show the preference TODGA has for Eu3+ over Eu2+ and the prospect for selective electrochemical stripping.

Electrochemical reduction of Eu3+ using tetra-n-octyl diglycolamide functionalized ordered mesoporous carbon electrodes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.