Determination of rare earth elements at trace levels in uranium process stream samples by ion-interaction chromatography

Abstract

Determination of rare-earth elements like Ce, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er at trace levels in uranium process stream samples has been investigated by ion-interaction chromatography using C18 column, cation exchange based pre-concentration column (PCC). A mixture of α-hydroxy-iso-butyric acid and octane sulfonic acid is used as eluent after separation of uranium by solvent extraction. The trapping of analytes by PCC is found to be maximum in the pH range of 2.9–3.7 of sample solution. The spiking standard recovery for each analyte was found to be more than 90% and the method can be employed regularly.