Novel Sorbent Extraction Technique Using a Chelating Agent Impregnated Porous PTFE Filter Tube: Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) with Bis(2‐Ethyl‐Hexyl)Hydrogen Phosphate (HDEHP) Loaded Porous PTFE Filter Tube Prior to Determination by ICP‐MS

Abstract

Sorbent extraction and elution of rare earth elements (REEs) by using bis(2‐ethyl‐hexyl)hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) impregnated porous PTFE filter tube were studied. A 100 ng amount of each REEs was quantitatively extracted by filtering 1000 mL of matrix‐free solution under pH 2.0–3.2. For a synthetic seawater sample, extractability of lighter REEs (La–Sm) was lowered; optimum pH range to simultaneously extract all REEs was shifted to 2.9–3.2, and limit of sample volume for quantitative extraction was decreased to 100 mL for La–Sm [although heavier REEs (Eu–Lu) were quantitatively extracted from 1000 mL]. Extracted REEs were quantitatively eluted by filtering through 5 mL of 10 mol/L−1 hydrochloric acid to the tube. Hence, maximum preconcentration factors were of 200‐ and 20‐fold for Nd–Lu and La–Sm, respectively. Total recovery of 0.5–10 ng of REEs spiked to 300 mL of natural sea salt solution was tested; quantitative recovery (95.9% for Gd–102% for Eu) were obtained for all REEs except La (54.9%). The REEs in the natural sea salt solution were also determined by ICP‐MS after preconcentration with the present method [RSD=16% (La)–1.1% (Yb), n=3].