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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

CATIONIC EXCHANGE PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF RARE EARTHS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4166396

A process for separating mixtures of elements in the lanthanum and actinium series of the periodic table is described. The mixture of elements is dissolved in 0.05 M HCI, wherein the elements exist as tripositive ions. The resulting solution is then transferred to a column of cationic exchange resin and the column eluted with 0.1 to 0.6 M aqueous ammonium alpha hydroxy isobutyrate solution of pH 3.8 to 5.0. The use of ammonium alpha hydroxy isobutyrate as an eluting agent results in sharper and more rapid separations than previously obtainable with eluants such as citric, tartaric, glycolic, and lactic acids.

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-14-015718
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Patent Number(s):
US 2925431
OSTI ID:
4166396
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English