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Electrochemical oxidation of terbium(III) in aqueous media: influence of supporting electrolyte on oxidation potential and stability

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Abstract

Apart from the generally dominant trivalent oxidation state, several lanthanides can occur in divalent or tetravalent states as well. Changing the valence state alters the chemical properties and, therefore, gives the opportunity to ease intragroup lanthanide separations. The hydrated terbium(III) ion has a highly positive reduction potential (E0 =  + 3.1 V vs. SHE), but it can be oxidized to its tetravalent state via ozonolysis or electrolysis, and stabilized in highly concentrated carbonate solutions. In this study, terbium(III) is electrochemically oxidized to terbium(IV) in aqueous carbonate, nitrate, and periodate media. Spectroscopic and elemental analysis were done to characterize terbium(IV) and to gain insight in the stability of these complexes in the aqueous electrolytes of carbonate, nitrate, and periodate. In all these electrolytes, oxidation and stabilization were achieved at different pH, terbium concentration, salt concentration and applied potentials. The most promising electrolyte was found to be carbonate, since it allowed to attain more concentrated and more stable terbium(IV) solutions.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) – SBO project Terbium Isotopes for Medical Applications in Flanders (Tb – IRMA – V, Grant number S005019N).

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This study was funded by fonds wetenschappelijk onderzoek (S005019N).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Institute for Nuclear Materials Science, Boeretang 200, B-2400, Mol, Belgium

    Meryem Ozge Arman, Bart Geboes, Karen Van Hecke & Thomas Cardinaels

  2. Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, P.O. 2404, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Meryem Ozge Arman, Koen Binnemans & Thomas Cardinaels

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Correspondence to Bart Geboes.

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Arman, M.O., Geboes, B., Van Hecke, K. et al. Electrochemical oxidation of terbium(III) in aqueous media: influence of supporting electrolyte on oxidation potential and stability. J Appl Electrochem 52, 583–593 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-021-01651-0

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