Extraction chromatography of lanthanides using N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) as the stationary phase Original Research Article

Studies on the uptake of several lanthanides, viz. La, Pr, Pm, Eu, Tb, Ho, Er, Yb and Lu from nitric acid medium were carried out using extraction chromatographic resin made by impregnating Chromosorb-W with N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA). In the batch studies, distribution coefficient (Kd) values increased with the HNO3 concentration reaching a plateau at around 2.5 M HNO3. At a given acidity, the Kd values of Ln(III) ions followed the order of their ionic potential. Separation of lanthanides was attempted using TODGA/Chromosorb-W column. The breakthrough capacity of the column was determined for all the Ln(III) ions in the presence of 1 g/L of their respective carrier salts. An attempt has been made to separate lanthanides, viz. La3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Ho3+, Yb3+ and Lu3+ using the column.