Actinide Separation Science and Technology

Both the science and technology of the actinides as we know them today owe much to separation science. Conversely, the field of metal ion separations, solvent extraction, and ion exchange in particular, would not be as important as it is today were it not for the discovery and exploitation of the actinides. Indeed, the synthesis of the actinides and the elucidation of their chemical and physical features required continuous development and improvement of chemical separation techniques. Furthermore, the diverse applications of solvent extraction and ion exchange for metal ion separations as we know them today received significant impetus from Cold War tensions (and the production of metric tons of plutonium) and the development of nuclear power for peaceful uses.

Solvent extraction, precipitation/coprecipitation, and ion exchange procedures have played a central role in the discovery and characterization of the 5f transition elements. Each of these separations techniques likewise has shaped progress in technological applications of actinides for electricity production and for nuclear weapons. Recent decades have seen the rise of pyroelectrometallurgical separations, wherein the long-term future of actinide separations may lie.