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

Ion exchange method for the purification of scandium

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6267587

This patent describes a process for purifying scandium. It comprises adjusting the pH of an aqueous solution containing scandium with base to between approximately 2.05 and 3.5; adding a chelating resin having an iminodiacetic acid functionality in the hydrogen form to the aqueous solution containing scandium and allowing the resulting slurry to equilibrate; adjusting the pH of the slurry containing scandium and chelating resin with base to between approximately 1.9 to 2.25; collecting the slurry from rinsing the collected slurry with dilute mineral acid; passing diglycolic acid through the collected slurry; passing the diglycolic containing scandium through a chelating resin; collecting the diglycolic acid coming out of the chelating resin; passing the diglycolic acid collected through a strong cation exchange resin; passing an ammonium nitrate solution through the strong cation exchange resin; adding oxalic acid to the collected ammonium nitrate solution; and collecting the scandium oxalate precipitate.

Assignee:
GTE Lab. Inc., Waltham, MA (USA)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5019362
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-423312
OSTI ID:
6267587
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English