f-Element Electrochemistry in RTIL Solutions: Electrochemical Separation of Lanthanides and Actinides

Authors

David W. Hatchett, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Annual Report

Publication Date

2008

First page number:

80

Last page number:

81

Abstract

Electrochemical methods can be used to effectively separate actinide and lanthanide species from complex mixtures. This is based on the unique electrochemical properties of each specific target species. In studies it has been found that, with the exception of Ce, aqueous solutions provide unsuitable electrochemical windows to effectively evaluate the thermodynamic properties that are useful for chemical separations. Therefore, a more novel approach was examined which eliminated the aqueous solution with a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) solution. RTIL solutions do not suffer from the side reactions that are prominent in aqueous environments. In addition, the potential window is much larger for the RTIL solutions. They are a new starting point for the electrochemical separation of individual species from a mixture.

The ultimate goal is to fully characterize the oxidation/reduction of f-elements in RTILs to establish the baseline thermodynamic and kinetic data for these systems. The data will be used to critically evaluate the ability to use electrochemical methods for controlled, potential mediated, separation of f-elements by electroplating on electrodes surfaces. Factors that will influence the ability to measure the redox processes in f-elements in RTIL solutions and electroplating on electrode surfaces include the structure, solubility, and stability of the target species in these solutions.

Keywords

Electrochemistry; Energy transfer; Oxidation-reduction reaction; Reactivity (Chemistry); Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL)

Controlled Subject

Electrochemistry; Oxidation-reduction reaction; Reactivity (Chemistry)

Disciplines

Analytical Chemistry | Chemistry | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Physical Chemistry

File Format

pdf

File Size

354 KB

Language

English

Rights

COPYRIGHT UNDETERMINED. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/

Repository Citation

Hatchett, D. W. (2008). f-Element Electrochemistry in RTIL Solutions: Electrochemical Separation of Lanthanides and Actinides. 80-81.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/hrc_trp_separations/98