Selective separation of indium from zinc, lead, gallium and many other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrohalic acid—acetone medium

Abstract

Indium can be separated from Zn, Pb(II), Ga, Ca, Be, Mg, Ti(IV), Mn(II), Fe(III), Al, U(VI), Na, Ni(II) and Co(II) by selective elution with 0·50 M hydrochloric acid in 30% aqueous acetone from a column of AG50W-X8 cation-exchange resin, all the other elements being retained by the column. Lithium is included in the elements retained by the column when 0·35 M hydrochloric acid in 45% aqueous acetone is used for eluting indium, but the elution of indium is slightly retarded. Ba, Sr, Zr, Hf, Th, Sc, Y, La and the lanthanides, Rb and Cs should also be retained according to their distribution coefficients. Cd, Bi(III), Au(III), Pt(IV), Pd(II), Rh(III), Mo(VI) and W(VI) can be eluted with 0·20 M hydrobromic acid in 50% aqueous acetone before the elution of indium, and Ir(III), Ir(IV), As(III), As(V), Se(IV), Tl(III), Hg(II), Ge(IV), Sb(III) and Sb(V), though not investigated in detail, should accompany these elements. Relevant distribution coefficients and elution curves and results for analyses of synthetic mixtures of indium with other elements are presented.