Separation of Eu from Sm/Eu/Gd mixture by photoreductive stripping in solvent extraction process

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00040a024· OSTI ID:6800346

Hirai, Takayuki; Komasawa, Isao ^[1]

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1. Osaka Univ. (Japan)

The photoreductive stripping of Eu from an organic phase (xylene, cyclohexane, or hexane) containing Sm[sup 3+], Eu[sup 3+], Gd[sup 3+], and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid as an extractant has been investigated. The organic phase and an aqueous 1 M (NH[sub 4])[sub 2]SO[sub 4] solution were agitated in a glass cell and irradiated with a low-pressure mercury lamp (LPML) or high-pressure mercury lamp (HPML) in the presence of a radical scavenger (isopropyl formate, formic acid, or 2-propanol). The trivalent Eu was photoreduced to the divalent state in the organic phase and precipitated selectively as EuSO[sub 4] in the aqueous phase. The effects of organic solvent, radical scavenger, and UV wavelength on the recovery and separation of Eu were studied. The recovery of Eu as EuSO[sub 4] from the organic solution initially containing equal amounts (4.5--5 mM) of the three elements reached 93%, and a purity of Eu in the precipitate was about 99% when LPML and 2-propanol were used.

• OSTI ID: 6800346
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Vol. 34:1; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
EUROPIUM
PHOTOLYSIS
REDUCTION
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
EFFICIENCY
EUROPIUM SULFATES
GADOLINIUM
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PRECIPITATION
SAMARIUM
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EUROPIUM COMPOUNDS
EXTRACTION
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
RADIATIONS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTHS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
400105* - Separation Procedures