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The separation of thorium and rare earth elements using [A336][NO3]: insight into a new extraction mechanism

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Abstract

In this study, extraction and separation of thorium(IV) and a few representative rare earths in HNO3 media was evaluated using trioctylmethylammonium nitrate ([A336][NO3]) ionic liquid. An unexpected novel extraction mechanism was identified based on the studies in the slope analysis and ESI–MS spectrum. The trimer of [A336][NO3] was confirmed to dominate the extraction reaction by ESI–MS spectrum before and after the extraction. The extraction efficiency of La(III), Eu(III) and Lu(III) by [A336][NO3] are much lower than Th(IV) in acid medium, which means that it is possible to separate thorium from rare earths or the rare earth ores by using [A336][NO3].

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21471072) for the financial support of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiochemistry Laboratory, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xuan Fu, Fang Zhang, Qiang Wu, Yang Li & Ze-Yi Yan

  2. Nuclear Chemistry, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Qing-Gang Huang

  3. Key Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Ze-Yi Yan

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  1. Xuan Fu
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  2. Fang Zhang
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  3. Qiang Wu
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  4. Yang Li
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Correspondence to Ze-Yi Yan.

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Fu, X., Zhang, F., Wu, Q. et al. The separation of thorium and rare earth elements using [A336][NO3]: insight into a new extraction mechanism. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 1251–1258 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07590-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07590-y

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