Solvent extraction behaviour of lanthanum(III), cerium(III), europium(III), thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) with 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone.

The extraction behaviour of La(III), Ce(III), Eu(III), Th(IV) and U(VI) with 3-phenyl-4- benzoyl-5-isoxazolone (HPBI) in chloroform has been studied. The mechanism of extraction and the species extracted have been identified. Extraction constants for each system have been calculated. The system has been used to separate Th(IV) from U(VI) and from La(III), Ce(III) and Eu(III). A comparison of the extraction constants with those for the 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (HPMBP) and thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) systems indicates that HPBI extracts these metal species better than HPMBP and HTTA do.