Anion-exchange separation of scandium from yttrium,lanthanum, cerium and other elements in malonic and ascorbic acid media

Summary The anion-exchange behaviour of scandium was studied in malonate and ascorbate media on Dowex 2×8 colums (1.4×18 cm). It forms anionic complexes with 8% malonic acid at pH 5.0 and 5% ascorbic acid at pH 6.5. Various eluants such as mineral acids and their corresponding salts were tested eluants and their efficiencies evaluated. Scandium was separated from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals Tl(I), Hg(II) and Fe(II). It was separated from Co, Ni, Pd, Mn, Cd and Zn by selective washing of the column and from other elements by selective elution in both systems. The separation of scandium from Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy were a remarkable feature of the method.