Breakthrough curves for adsorption and elution of rhenium in a column ion exchange system

Impure rhenium and molybdenum bearing solution was passed through a column of Varian strong base anionic resin for selective adsorption of rhenium and molybdenum ions from the solution. Elution of molybdenum and rhenium was carried out using 2 N NaOH and 0.2 N NH4SCN, respectively. The effect of resin bed height on breakthrough time was investigated. Experimental and theoretical curves were compared with good agreement. The results showed that the behavior pattern of these curves was repeatable and almost constant.