A study on the effects of drying conditions on the stability of NaNd(CO 3) 2·6H 2O and NaEu(CO 3) 2·6H 2O

Abstract

The effect of different drying conditions on the stability of NaNd(CO 3)·6H 2O and NaEu(CO 3)·6H 2O and the identity of the decomposition product have been investigated. The rate of decomposition and the nature of the altered phases are dependant on the drying conditions used. When the phases are oven dried at 120 °C, the decomposition is immediate and the phase completely alters to Nd 2(CO 3) 3 or Eu 2(CO 3) 3 respectively. Under less severe drying conditions, the Na rare earth carbonate phases alter to Nd 2(CO 3) 3·8H 2O and Eu 2(CO 3) 3·8H 2O over a period of 24–48 h, but they can be kept indefinitely in a water saturated environment. The implications for using Nd and Eu as actinide analogues are discussed.