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.