Electrochemical Separation of Curium and Americium

Abstract

The objective of this project is to use electrochemical techniques to develop a thermodynamic understanding of actinide and lanthanide species in aqueous solution and use this data to effectively separate species with very similar chemical properties. In consultation with a national laboratory collaborators, electrochemical methods and materials will be evaluated and used to exploit the thermodynamic differences between similar chemical species enhancing the ability to selectively target and sequester individual species from mixtures. This project is in its third year and has successfully completed Phases 1 and 2. The following were specific goals for this year: To develop a fundamental understanding of the thermodynamic properties of actinide and lanthanide species such as Cm, Am, Ce, Nd, Eu, and Sm after complex formation. To examine how chelation influences the thermodynamic properties of waste form species. To use systematic studies to distinguish the thermodynamic signatures and ability to shift thermodynamic potentials using chelation to enhance separation properties