The chromatographic separation of uranium, thorium and rare earths by means of paper treated with a liquid anion exchanger

Abstract

The chromatographic separation of uranium, thorium and rare earths was carried out by using a paper treated with tri-n-octylamine (TNOA). Solutions containing HNO/sub 3/, LiNO/sub 3/, NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ NsNO/sub 3/, Ca(NO/sub 3/)/ sub 2/ and Al(NO/sub 3/)/sub 3/ were used as eluants. This type of chromatographic separation is analogous to ion exchange on anionic resins or with liquid amines. The effects of the various parameters on the R values are examined. The separation of thorium, uranium and lanthanum with hydrochloric solutions, on paper treated with tri-n-octyl-phosphine oxide was investigated. The possibility of using columns filled with cellulose powder treated with TNOA, as anionic resin columns is also anticipated. (auth)