Simultaneous determination of lanthanum and cerium in mixed rare earths with p-acetylarsenazo by spectrophotometry

A new method has been developed for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of small amounts of lanthanum and cerium in the presence of large amounts of rare earth elements. Lanthanum (III) and cerium (III) were determined spectrophotometrically with p-acetylarsenazo as the color reagent in the chloroacetic acid medium at pH 3.1 by measuring the absorbances of the complexes at 670 nm. The remained rare earths were masked with ethylenediaminetetracetic acid and ethylenediaminetetracetic acid-zinc during the analysis. The optimum conditions for the simultaneous determination of lanthanum and cerium have been defined. The individual content of lanthanum (III) and cerium (III) were determined by varying the amounts of EDTA and EDTA-Zn used in the analysis and solving the simultaneous absorbance equations based on the Beer's law. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of lanthanum and cerium in Longnan mixed rare earth oxides and other heavy rare earths without preliminary separation with satisfactory results. The relative errors of all analytical results of the method were not more than 2% with good precision. The procedure does not require separation of lanthanum, cerium and the other rare earth elements.     

Separation of lanthanum and cerium on modified fly ash bed

The adsorption of lanthanum and cerium on modified fly ash bed has been studied. The effect of pH on the adsorption of both lanthanum and cerium by the bed material has been discussed. The exchange capacities of lanthanum and cerium have been determined. The method has been applied to monazite sand solution. The elution of both lanthanum(III) and cerium(IV) was studied using buffer and suitable eluting agent. The process is simple and may be considered as a low cost-methodology for separation of lanthanum and cerium.     

Separation of lanthanum and cerium on modified fly ash bed

The adsorption of lanthanum and cerium on modified fly ash bed has been studied. The effect of pH on the adsorption of both lanthanum and cerium by the bed material has been discussed. The exchange capacities of lanthanum and cerium have been determined. The method has been applied to monazite sand solution. The elution of both lanthanum(III) and cerium(IV) was studied using buffer and suitable eluting agent. The process is simple and may be considered as a low cost-methodology for separation of lanthanum and cerium.     

Separation of molybdenum(VI) from other elements by solvent extraction with dibenzo-18-crown-6 from hydrochloric acid medium

DB-18-C6 was used for the extractive separation analysis of molybdenum(VI) from a range of other elements. Molybdenum(VI) was quantitatively extracted from 8M hydrochloric acid with 0.01M DB-18-C6 in nitrobenzene. It was stripped from the organic phase with 2M nitric acid and determined spectrophotometrically with Tiron at 390 nm. Molybdenum was separated from a large number of elements in binary mixtures, the tolerance limit for most elements being very high. Selective extraction of molybdenum permits its separation from barium, thorium, cesium, rubidium, strontium, lanthanum, chromium(III) and cerium(III). The method was extended for the analysis of molybdenum in a soil sample.     

Separation of <Superscript>139</Superscript>Ce using solvent extraction technique from La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> target irradiated by 14.7 MeV protons

The radiochemical separation of no-carrier-added cerium from proton irradiated lanthanum was studied by solvent extraction using DEE, TBP and TPPO, the latter reagent being employed for the first time for separation of radiocerium from bulk of lanthanum. Distribution coefficients of cerium and lanthanum were investigated as a function of equilibrium time and concentration of HNO₃. A mixture of 0.05M K₂Cr₂O₇ and 0.1M H₂SO₄ was used as an oxidizing agent to improve the separation efficiency of cerium. A comparative study of the three extractants released that DEE is the best for separation of cerium from bulk of lanthanum oxide. The target was prepared by pressing. The production of ¹³⁹Ce of high radionuclidic purity and chemical purity via irradiation of lanthanum oxide target at MGC-20 cyclotron with protons of energy 14.5 MeV is described. The experimental yield was found to be 153 kBq/μA·h.     

Solvent extraction of lanthanum(III) and cerium(III) with dialkyldithiophosphoric acids. Separation from thorium(IV)

The extraction of lanthanum(III) and cerium(III) with dialkyldithiophosphoric acids, Hdtp, into different polar and nonpolar solvents (cyclohexane, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, n-butanol and cyclohexanone) from aqueous solutions containing perchlorate, nitrate and chloride anions has been investigated. The effect of various factors, such as nature of the solvent, pH, metal concentration and foreign anions present in the aqueous phase was investigated in order to establish the mechanism of extraction process. The data obtained suggest an ion-exchange mechanism. The anions present in the aqueous phase do not participate in the extraction process and do not influence significantly the magnitude of the extraction ratios either. The extracted species in the organic phase is a 12 complex of lanthanide with Hdtp. The extraction efficiency (E%) is calculated and the possibility of Th-rare earths separation is discussed.     

Synergistic extraction and separation studies of uranium(VI)

A method is described for the extractive separation and spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) from an aqueous solution of pH 5.0–7.0 using benzoylacetone (bzac) and pyridine (py) dissolved in toluene as extractants. The extracted species are UO₂(bzac(₂·2py. The method provides separation of uranium(VI) from lanthanum(III), samarium(III), neodymium(III), cerium(III) and thorium(IV). The method is precise, accurate, fast and selective.     

Complexation of poly-bis-(3-silsesquioxanylpropyl)amino-sulfoxide and-sulfone with rare-earth elements

Polymers of silsesquioxane structure, poly[bis-(3-silsesquioxanyl-propylamino)]sulfoxide ( IV ) and -sulfone ( V ) have been prepared and examined as complexation agents toward samarium(III) and thulium(III). Polymer IV was an effective complexation agent toward both of these elements. However, polymer V was an effective complexation agent only toward thulium(III) ions. The selective complexation of polymer V with thulium is not affected by the presence of excess amounts of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, or samarium salt. This suggests that polymer V may prove to be useful in rare-earth element (REE) separation and isolation. The selective complexation of V with thulium(III) is also observed in the presence of nickel(II), copper(II), or lead(II) salt.     

Dynamic ion-exchange chromatography with post-column reaction detection for the determination of the rare earth elements in monazites

Summary Separation and determination of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium in monazites have been achieved by dynamic ion-exchange chromatography. The ore samples are decomposed by sulfuric acid and the rare earths are separated in a group as oxalates. The rare earth elements are then separated from each other on a column of bonded phase silica by gradient elution with 0.05 to 0.5 M lactic acid (pH 3.5) in the presence of 0.01 M sodium 1-octanesulfonate. Post-column reaction with Arsenazo III is used for detection and quantification of the individual rare earth elements. Results are quoted for lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium in monazites. Detection limit is 1 μg ml⁻¹ with a S/N ratio of 3. The separation is complete within 27 min valley to valley resolution. Precision of better than 1% can usually be obtained.     

Studies on the separation treatment of high-level liquid waste by bisamide podand(I): Extraction and separation of An(III) from Ln(III)

A process for actinide(III) and lanthanum(III) extraction separation from high-level liquid waste (HLLW) was proposed, with N,N,N',N'-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) as the extractant, tri-n?butyl phosphate (TBP) as the phase modifier and 2,6-bis[1-(propan-1-ol)-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]pyridine (PyTri-Diol or PTD) as hydrophilic stripping agent. This ‘hot test’ was successfully carried out, achieving 99.92% removal of americium-241 (²⁴¹Am) with a separation factor SF_(Eu/Am) of 3.8 × 10³ in the actinide(III) product solution. The results show that bisamide podand extractants can effectively realize the extraction and separation of actinide(III) and lanthanum(III) from Chinese commercial HLLW and thus have a bright practical application potential for the treatment of commercial HLLW.     

In situ electro-oxidation and liquid-liquid extraction of cerium(IV) from nitric acid medium using tributyl phosphate and 2-ethylhexyl hydrogen 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate

The process of in situ electro-oxidation of Ce(III) to Ce(IV) followed by its extraction into the organic phase has been investigated for its applicability in the separation of Ce from nitrate medium. Solvent extraction of cerium from nitric acid after its electro-oxidation to fourth valency state was carried out using tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 2-ethylhexyl hydrogen 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (KSM-17, equivalent to PC-88A). The efficiency of the extractants at different aqueous phase nitric acid concentrations and different electrode potentials were determined. Various reducing agents such as hydroxylamine hydrochloride, sodium nitrite, ferrous sulphate as well as complexing agents like EDTA, oxalic acid etc, were studied as strippants for the back extraction of cerium from the loaded organic phase. The method developed for the extraction of cerium was further extended to the partitioning of cerium from Ce-Am mixture obtained during the KSM-17 based extraction chromatographic elemental fractionation of PUREX High Activity Waste (HAW) solutions. Recovery of Ce obtained in the extraction experiments by batch as well as by continuous flow organic phase was >95% with good radiochemical purity.     

Separation of rare earth elements in the tributyl phosphate–Ln(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Ca(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> system in the counter current process

The 40-step extraction process to separate rare earth elements (RЕEs) according to the praseodymium–cerium line with the use of mixer–settler extractors in a 100% TBP–Ln(NO₃)₃–Ca(NO₃)₂ system is implemented. A lanthanum–cerium concentrate containing less than 0.03 wt % of the remaining REEs is obtained. The flow diagram of the separation process of a rare earth (RE) concentrate isolated from phosphogypsum is considered.     

Selective separation and extraction of copper(II), iron(II,III), and Cerium(III,IV) ions from aqueous solutions by electroflotation method

Possibility of the electroflotation separation and extraction of cerium(II, IV), copper(II), and iron(II, III) from aqueous solutions is demonstrated. The optimal pH value and the concentration ratio of ions of the metals being separated, at which their electroflotation separation and extraction from aqueous solutions is the most efficient, was determined. It was shown that the electroflotation method is promising for selective separation and extraction of metal ions with various hydrate-formation pH values from aqueous solutions.     

Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation of new cerium(III), lanthanum(III) and neodymium(III) complexes

Complexes of cerium(III), lanthanum(III) and neodymium(III) with coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acid (HCCA) were synthesized by mixing of equimolar amounts of the respective metal nitrates and coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acid in ethanol. The complexes were characterized and identified by elemental analysis, IR and Raman spectroscopy. DTA and TGA were applied to study the compositions of the compounds. The vibrational study showed bidentate coordination of CCA^? to Ln(III) ions through the carbonyl oxygen and the carboxylic oxygen atoms. The newly synthesized compounds were assayed for cytotoxicity against SKW‐3, HL‐60 and Reh cells. The complexes of cerium(III) and lanthanum(III) showed marginal cytotoxic activity against SKW‐3 and Reh cells as compared with the inorganic salts at concentration 200 µM . The complex of neodymium(III) induced approximately 50% reduction of the survival HL‐60 and SKW‐3 cells at concentration 200 µM . Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The thermolysis of the neocupferron chelates of yttrium and the rare earth elements

The thermolosis curves of the neocupferron chelates of yttnum, lanthanum, cerium(III), cerium(IV). praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and gadolinuim were determined. It was found that the ehelates were stable up to 8o°, with the oxide levels being reached at 460–750°.     

Extraction of trace amounts of cerium(III) by oxides of amines and its separation from cerium(IV)

The solvent extraction of cerium(III) from nitric, hydrochloric and sulphuric acid solutions by 4-(5-nonyl)pyridine oxide and trioctylamine oxide in xylene has been studied. The influence of the concentration of the solvents and salting-out agents is described. From the results of partition experiments attempts have been made to deduce the nature of the extracted species. The investigation shows that cerium(III) can be separated from cerium(IV) from very dilute solutions of mineral acids and also from moderate nitric acid media.     

Thermogravimetric investigation of scandium,yttrium and the rare earth metal diliturates

Thermolysis curves for scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium(III), neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium and erbium diliturates are described, Scandium diliturate forms a 15-hydrate which dehydrates in 3 steps. The other diliturates all form 12-hydrates which dehydrate smoothly. All of the anhydrous diliturates are thermally stable to about 240°.Solubilities in water for scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium(lll), neodymium, samarium. gadolinium, dysprosium and erbium diliturates are given. Scandium diliturate is the most soluble and neodymium diliturate the least soluble. Solubilities of rare earth diliturates not investigated can be predicted approximately.Methods for thermogravimetric determination of yttrium, lanthanum, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dyprosium, and erbium as the diliturates have been developed. The precipitates are quite dense, easily handled and filterable. Weighing as the diliturate salts gives these determinations a very favorable gravimetric factor.     

The determination of fluorine in rare earth fluorides by high temperature hydrolysis

The technique of pyrohydrolysis has been applied to the determination of fluorine in the fluorides of scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanons. These fluorides have been divided into two classes according to their rate of hydrolysis. Lutetium, ytterbium, cerium(III), scandium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, and thulium florides can be hydrolyzed in 30 min or less. Yttrium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, and europium fluorides require from 45 to 150 min for complete hydrolysis. Accelerators, such as uranium oxide (U₃O₈), chromium(III) oxide, and a mixture of these oxides have been used successfully to reduce the tune required for quantitative hydrolysis of the fluorides in the latter group. The use of the correct accelerator reduces the hydrolysis time to 30 min or less for all these fluorides except lanthanum, praseodymium and neodymium.     

Solvent extraction, spectrophotometric and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic (ICP-AES) determination of lanthanum(III) with crown hydroxamic acid

A new crown hydroxamic acid, 5,14-N,N'-hydroxyphenyl-4,15-dioxo-1,5,14,18-tetraaza hexacosane (NHDTAHA) for the extraction and spectrophotometric determination of lanthanum(III) is described. Lanthanum(III) forms a yellow coloured complex with NHDTAHA, which is extracted with chloroform, having molar absorptivity 7.7 x 10(3) 1 mol(-1) per cm at 372 nm. The system obeys Beer's law in the range 1.2-20 ppm of lanthanum. The extract is directly aspirated for ICP-AES measurements, the limits for estimation are 5-140 ppb of lanthanum. Lanthanum has been determined in monazite sand and standard samples.     

Electrochemical separation of uranium and cerium in molten LiCl–KCl

The electrochemical separation of uranium from cerium in LiCl–KCl eutectic and the electrochemical behavior of Ce(III) were studied. According to the cyclic voltammogram of Ce(III) and the former result of U(III), electrodeposition potential was determined at ?1.65 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The uranium metal was successfully deposited and separated from cerium. The morphology of deposit and cross section of electrode were investigated by SEM, firstly uranium deposit alloys with stainless steel and forms a thin transition layer, and secondly the uranium metal layer grows from the transition layer. The separation factors of uranium/cerium on different recovery ratios were determined through a series of steps. It was found that the content of cerium in the deposit and separation factors declined with increasing the initial concentration of U³⁺ in molten salts; the separation factors remained stable at around 20 in different uranium recovery ratios.