A study on the atomic number dependent magnetic properties of lanthanide and actinide oxides for magnetic separation technology

A systematic understanding of atomic number dependent magnetic properties of rare earth oxides is crucial for magnetic separation technology on hazardous industry wastes. In this work, the atomic number dependent magnetic properties of lanthanide and actinide ions were studied. Experimental results of some lanthanide oxides show that the magnetic properties of lanthanide ions are both atomic number dependent and temperature dependent. However, a typical double peak shape of the atomic number dependent magnetic moments is observed at both low and high temperatures. The experimental results of lanthanide oxides agree very well with the theoretical results from molecular magnetic model. Therefore, this molecular magnetic model was further used to predict the magnetic properties of more lanthanide ions and radioactive actinide ions which are not easily accessed experimentally. The theoretically predicted results on actinide ions also show a typical double peak shape of the atomic number dependent magnetic moments due to the similar electron configuration of lanthanide and actinide ions. This work verified the reliability of molecular magnetic model in predicting magnetic properties of lanthanide and actinide ions and provides systematical magnetic data for future magnetic separation technology on those hazardous industry wastes.