Gas chemical adsorption characterization of lanthanide hexafluoroacetylacetonates

S Adam Stratz; Steven J Jones; Austin D Mullen; Manny Mathuthu; Colton J Oldham; John D Auxier 2nd; Howard L Hall

doi:10.1007/s10967-017-5232-z

Gas chemical adsorption characterization of lanthanide hexafluoroacetylacetonates

J Radioanal Nucl Chem. 2017;312(2):355-360. doi: 10.1007/s10967-017-5232-z. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Authors

S Adam Stratz^{1

2

3}, Steven J Jones⁴, Austin D Mullen^{1

2

3}, Manny Mathuthu^{5

3}, Colton J Oldham^{1

2

3}, John D Auxier 2nd^{1

2

3}, Howard L Hall^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, 315 Pasqua Engineering Bldg., Knoxville, TN 37996 USA.
² Radiochemistry Center of Excellence, University of Tennessee, 1508 Middle Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996 USA.
³ Institute for Nuclear Security, University of Tennessee, 1640 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37996 USA.
⁴ Bredeson Center for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Tennessee, 1640 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37996 USA.
⁵ Center for Applied Radiation Science and Technology (CARST), North-West University (Mafikeng), Cnr Albert Luthuli Road & University Drive, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, 2735 South Africa.

Abstract

Newly-established adsorption enthalpy and entropy values of 12 lanthanide hexafluoroacetylacetonates, denoted Ln[hfac]₄, along with the experimental and theoretical methodology used to obtain these values, are presented for the first time. The results of this work can be used in conjunction with theoretical modeling techniques to optimize a large-scale gas-phase separation experiment using isothermal chromatography. The results to date indicate average adsorption enthalpy and entropy values of the 12 Ln[hfac]₄ complexes ranging from -33 to -139 kJ/mol K and -299 to -557 J/mol, respectively.

Keywords: Hexafluoroacetylacetone; Nuclear forensics; Nuclear security; Post-detonation; Rare earth separations.