Coupled Reduction with Platinum Group Metals

Very pure metals of the actinide, lanthanide and alkaline earth series can be prepared from their oxides by coupled reduction by hydrogen in the presence of platinum group metals. During the process the platinum group metals form intermetallic phases with the metals from the oxides. These phases are decomposed to yield the pure metals in gaseous form and the platinum group metals in solid form. The pure gaseous metals condense to produce pure solid specimens.