ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRAACETIC ACID AND CITRIC ACID AS ELUANTS IN ION EXCHANGE SEPARATION OF RARE EARTHS

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Abstract
Studies of the distribution of rare earths between the cation exchange resin Zeokarb 225 and solutions of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) show the existence of large separation factors between members of this series. However, column experiments show that the separation is poorer than with citric acid, probably because of a slow process occurring in the solution. The variation of column efficiency with distribution coefficient has been examined. Elution of europium with citric acid appears to be diffusion controlled, while that with EDTA is not. Further experiments with strontium indicate that its elution with both EDTA and citric acid is diffusion controlled. The results are in general agreement with Glueckauf's equation relating column variables with the height equivalent to a theoretical plate. Column irregularities appear to account for the very low diffusion constants calculated from this relation.

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