“…This is in accordance with the observation of Pai et al [111], that the weaker the chelate, the higher the established synergism in solvent extraction processes. In addition, about 10-to 40-fold enhancement has been observed in the extraction of the trivalent La, Eu, Lu, and Am ions with HP ligand and bis-2-ethylhexylsulphoxide [112], whereas with mixtures of HPBI and sulphoxides, an about 2-to 4-fold enhancement was observed in the extraction of trivalent Nd, Tb, and Tm ions [113]. Therefore, many studies have been carried out using a neutral unidentate ligand as the synergistic agent, such as crown ethers [105,114], organophosphorus compounds, sulfoxides [115,116], or alkylammonium salts.…”