Separation of the adjacent lanthanide (Ln) pair such as Sm-Eu from each other using chemical methods is difficult due to their similar chemical features. In the present work, electrochemical separation of Eu and Sm from each other were studied in molten LiCl-KCl-1 wt% EuCl 3 -1 wt% SmCl 3 at 500 °C. By using a Cu reactive electrode, Sm was selectively separated from the salt because of the formation of several Cu-Sm intermetallic compounds while Eu remained in the salt. The formation of Al-Eu compounds occurs at a more negative potential than that of the Al-Sm compounds on Al electrode. However, the formation rate of Al-Eu compound is much higher than that of Al-Sm compound. With an electrolysis time of 0.5 h and a potential at −2.225 V (vs Ag(I)/Ag), the deposit on the electrode is mainly made up of Al-Eu compound. This study reveals the influence of working electrode on Eu-Sm separation and provides a potential method for adjacent lanthanide pair separation.

Heterogeneous oxidation has been utilized for one-step conversion of metallic W to WO 3 at ∼750 °C in a stream of air, with simultaneous separation of W from Re and Os impurities which are coproduced during the long neutron irradiation of the W target (∼50 days). The freshly produced WO 3 is readily soluble in a base for use in a 188 W/ 188 Re biomedical generator. The metallic tungsten target, in the form of small pellets (4 × 3 mm diameter × height), was prepared by cold pressing W powder at ∼3 tons/cm 2 . Sintering (vacuum annealing) the pellets at 1200-1400 °C, under 1-10 µTorr pressure provided good mechanical strength. Analysis of the black residue, which is typically encountered in the dissolution of neutron-irradiated WO 3 targets, indicated that 186 W and 187 Re were the main constituents. Further, the specific activity of insoluble 188 W in the residue was ∼200 times smaller than that of soluble 188 W.

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