METHODS FOR GAS-PHASE THERMOCHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATIONS OF FISSION AND ACTIVATION PRODUCTS

摘要

Methods are provided for characterizing samples containing chemical elements such as rare earth elements, actinides, and heavy transition metals by treating the samples to form volatile complexes of the elements (e.g., β-diketonate complexes or other organic ligand complexes of the elements) and then analyzing the complexes, for example, via gas-phase thermochromatography. Also provided are methods for separating and/or recovering such chemical elements. The methods produce less waste and can be performed more rapidly than conventional liquid extraction methods and can provide separated elements of high purity (e.g., 99.9999% purity).

主权项

1. A method for characterizing a sample comprising a compound or compounds comprising atoms of one or more chemical elements, wherein each of said one or more chemical elements is selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element, uranium (U), thorium (Th), an actinide, and a heavy transition metal; the method comprising:
(a) providing a sample comprising a compound or compounds comprising atoms of said one or more chemical elements; (b) forming a complex of each of said one or more chemical elements, wherein the complex comprises a ligand and one of said one or more chemical elements; (c) volatizing the complex of each of said one or more chemical elements; and (d) determining the identity of the one or more chemical elements, wherein the determining for each of the one or more chemical elements is based upon a retention time of a volatized complex on a gas chromatography column or upon a temperature of volatilization of a complex.