Continuous electrophoretic separations of radioactive rare earth mixtures : III. Survey of experiments in 0.05 M lactic acid

Abstract

Using continuous electrophoresis the relative mobilities of rare earths in 0.05 M lactic acid were estimated. Within the series of rare earths with atomic numbers ranging from 57 to 71 a relationship was found between the cathodic mobilities of these rare earths and their atomic numbers, or their ionic radii respectively. This relationship is presented in diagrams which give straight lines. In the direction of increasing atomic number, or decreasing ionic radius respectively, the cathodic mobility decreases, indicating that the capacity of these rare earths to form complexes with lactic acid increases. At the same time information about the continuous electrophoretic separability of rare earth mixtures in 0.05 M lactic acid for preparative purposes is given. Various problems concerning the determination of relative mobilities using the continuous electrophoretic method are discussed in detail.