ION-EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY OF GLYCOLATOCOMPLEXES OF RARE-EARTHS

The ion-exchange behavior of glycolatocomplexes of the rare earths (Sc, Y and lanthanides) with 1-octanesulfonate as the hydrophobic ion has been investigated in aqueous glycolate media. The system is capable of separating adjacent light intra rare earths, La-Ce-Pr-Nd-Y-Sm, and heavy rare earths, Ho-Er-Tm-Yb-Lu-Sc, from each other with good resolution by gradient elution at room temperature. Intermediate rare earths, Dy-Tb-Gd-Eu-Sm, are difficult to separate from each other. The position of Y in the eluate is different from that found with most other eluent systems used for rare earth separations, being between Nd and Sm.