Quaternary ammonium group, effect nitration

Basic Extractants. Only long-chain quaternary ammonium salts, R3NCH3 X , ia which R represents Cg—0 2 groups and X nitrate or thiocyanate, are effectively used for REE separations (see Quaternary ammonium compounds). The extractant reacts with REE according to an anion-exchange reaction ... 

Quaternary ammonium compounds are analogous to tetramethylammonium-based anion-exchange resins. They offer additional possibilities over anion-exchange resins for trivalent lanthanide/actinide separation (over resins) in the ability to use solvation effects to enhance separation factors. The first application of quaternary amines to lanthanide/actinide group separation was made by Moore (1964), who examined the system Aliquat 336/xylene/H2S04-NH4SCN. A principal advantage of this method is the relatively low concentration of salts required to attain a usable separation (as compared with tertiary amine/nitrate systems). Several other applications of the method have been summarized by Weaver (1974). 

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