Irradiated europium oxide is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, then converted to dry europium chloride solution in methanol. The use of methanol instead of traditional water eliminates hydrogen gas generation and allows better reduction of europium. The methanol solution is passed through a metallic zinc reductor column to reduce Eu(III) to Eu(II). Zinc, dissolved by reaction with europium, is precipitated with hydrogen sulfide and tetramethylammonium hydroxide, then filtered out of solution. The Eu(II) is precipitated as EuSO4 and filtered out, leaving Gd(III) in solution.