Reversed-Phase Extraction Chromatography in Inorganic Chemistry

Abstract

The wide applications of the reversed-phase technique in organic chemistry are well-known. This technique early entered the field of inorganic separations. Theory yields correlations between measurable extraction chromatographic quantities and liquid-liquid extraction parameters relevant to the particular system considered. Separations on thin-layers impregnated with an extractant were first reported by Markl and Hecht in 1963. Basic extractants are long-chain aliphatic amines or ammonium compounds, and are often referred to as liquid anion exchangers because their behavior is noticeably similar to that of anion exchange resins. Reversed-phase extraction chromatography easily allows separations of elements where-as other valuable techniques often involve far more lengthy and cumbersome procedures. Most of the fundamental work with presently known extractants has already been done, and reversed-phase extraction chromatography is now mostly called upon to examine and apply new extraction agents.