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U.S. Department of Energy
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METHOD OF SEPARATING TETRAVALENT PLUTONIUM VALUES FROM CERIUM SUB-GROUP RARE EARTH VALUES

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4266576

A method is presented for separating plutonium from the cerium sub-group of rare earths when both are present in an aqueous solution. The method consists in adding an excess of alkali metal carbonate to the solution, which causes the formation of a soluble plutonium carbonate precipitate and at the same time forms an insoluble cerium-group rare earth carbonate. The pH value must be adjusted to bctween 5.5 and 7.5, and prior to the precipitation step the plutonium must be reduced to the tetravalent state since only tetravalent plutonium will form the soluble carbonate complex.

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-13-013382
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Patent Number(s):
US 2872287
OSTI ID:
4266576
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English