Reversed phase foam chromatography : Separation of iron from copper,cobalt and nickel in the tri-n-butyl phosphate-hydrochloric acid system

The separation of iron from cobalt, copper and nickel by reversed-phase foam chromatography was investigated. The distribution of Fe, Co and Cu in TBP-HCl and TBP(polyurethane foam)-HCl systems was measured. Iron can be separated from the three other metals on polyether-type polyurethane foam columns loaded with TBP. The break-through curve of iron on TBP (polyurethane foam) columns was measured. The column was found suitable for the separation of ⁵⁸Co and ⁵⁹Fe isotopes.