Selective separation of minor actinides and lanthanides using aromatic dithiophosphinic and phosphinic acid derivatives

A new extractant for the separation of actinide(III) and lanthanide(III) cations, bis(o-trifluoromethylphenyl) phosphinic acid (2) was synthesized. The synthetic route employed mirrors one that was employed to produce the sulfur containing analog bis(o-trifluoromethylphenyl) dithiophosphinic acid (1). Classic radiochemical methods and absorbance spectroscopy were used to study the coordination chemistry of the Am-dithiophosphinic acid and Am-phosphinic acid complexes. (author)