Fast preparation and gas-chromatographic separation of lanthanide and actinide hexafluoroacetylacetonates

A fast method for the separation of lanthanide elements by gas chromatography of their hexafluoroacetylacetonates is described. Individual lanthanides can be isolated within a few minutes, and the whole group can be separated in less than 10 min. The hexafluoroacetylacetonates are applied in form of mixed complexes with tri-n-butyl phosphate or trioctylphosphine oxide prepared by fast extraction into quasi-solid solvents. The applicability of this method for the separation of trivalent actinide elements is shown, including the fast preparation of thin counting samples.