07/24/2023
By Erin Bertelsen

The Radiological Sciences Program invites you to attend a thesis defense by M.S. candidate Adam Boey on: “Minor Actinide and Lanthanide Chromatographic Separations Using Synergistic Extractions.”

Date: Aug. 2, 2023
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Location: Physics Conference Room (OLN 136), Olney Building

This will be a hybrid thesis defense, both in-person and online via Microsoft Teams. Those interested in attending online should contact Adam Boey (Adam_Boey@student.uml.edu) and committee member Erin Bertelsen (Erin_Bertelsen@uml.edu) at least 24 hours prior to the thesis defense to request access to the meeting.

Committee Chair: Erin Bertelsen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Physics and Applied Physics

Committee Members:

  • Erno Sajo, Ph.D., Professor, Physics and Applied Physics
  • Mark Tries, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Physics and Applied Physics

Abstract:
Extraction chromatography has the potential to perform high purity f-element separations for various small-scale radio-analyses, while minimizing generated organic liquid waste and undesirable phase phenomena. Exploring potential synergism, or the greater-than-expected uptake of an analyte, between reagents in a mixed-extractant resin may further emphasize this technique’s speed and efficiency in radioisotope purification. Two extractant compounds, N,N,N’,N’‐tetrakis‐(2‐ethyl‐1‐hexyl)‐3‐oxapentane‐1,5‐diamide (TEHDGA) and 2‐ethylhexyl 2‐ethylhexylphosphonic acid (HEH[EHP]), were physiosorbed on a solid resin and the uptake of Eu-152 was examined. Results from the partitioning of Eu using the mixed-extractant resin, as a function of nitric acid concentration, indicated a limited degree of synergy between 0.3 M and 0.5 M HNO3. The maximum Eu adsorption capacity of the mixed-extractant resin was two times greater than that of a single-extractant resin using HEH[EHP].

All interested persons are welcome to attend.