Solvent Extraction Separation of Some Actinides and Lanthanides with Sulfoxides

Studies have been made on the extraction of some actinides [Th(IV), Pa(V), and U(VI)] and lanthanides [La(III), Ce(III), Pm(III), Eu(III), and Tb(III)] from hydrochloric acid medium by dialkyl sulfoxides. The actinides have extraction maxima at 7.0 M HCl while the lanthanides practically do not get extracted. Thus the extraction separation of these two groups can be effected by the preferential extraction of the actinides by the sulfoxides.