US 20190287691Al  c19)  United States  c12)  Patent Application Publication  c10) Pub. No.: US 2019/0287691 Al  (43) Pub. Date:  Sep. 19, 2019  ABERGEL et al.  (54)  SEPARATION OF METAL IONS BY  LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION  (71)  Applicants:THE  REGENTS OF THE  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,  Oakland, CA (US);  FRED  HUTCHINSON CANCER  RESEARCH CENTER,  Seattle, WA  (US)  (72)  Inventors:  Rebecca J. ABERGEL,  Oakland, CA  (US);  Roland K. STRONG,  Seattle,  WA (US);  Gauthier J.P. DEBLONDE,  Oakland, CA (US);  Abel RICANO,  Oakland, CA (US)  (21)  Appl. No.:  16/365,132  (22)  Filed:  Mar. 26, 2019  (63)  Continuation-in-part  of application  No.  PCT/  US2017 /048934, filed on Aug. 28, 2017.  (52)  U.S. Cl.  CPC ..............  G21F 91125  (2013.01);  C07K 14/47  (2013.01);  G21C 19146  (2013.01)  (51)  Int. Cl.  (60)  Provisional application No. 62/401,687, filed on Sep.  29, 2016, provisional application No. 62/505,458,  filed on May 12, 2017.  Publication Classification  Related U.S. Application Data  (57)  ABSTRACT  Provided herein are separation processes for metal ions  present in aqueous solutions based on methods involving  liquid-liquid extraction. The separation process involves a  chelator that can selectively bind to at least one of the metals  at a relatively low pH. This can be used, for example, for  recovery and purification of actinides from lanthanides,  separation of metal ions based on their valence, and sepa› ration of metal ions based on the pH of the extraction  conditions.  G21F  9112  G21C 19146  (2006.01)  (2006.01)  Feed;  Ac $^{3}$+  +  Th $^{4}$+ + Lnj+  +  Ra:i. ❖  Acidfe media  HDEHP+  diluent  pH iv3  n  Ligand addition:  3,4.13~U{1t2•HOPO} + base  - ~•  - .  Selective  extraction  of  actinium+  - - , .  Purified Ac 3$_{-+ }$ Th4+ + Ln~+ + Rri 2 +› ( let for decay) 