Extraction and separation of scandium salicylate with triphenylphosphine oxide

Scandium can be extracted from 5.0 × 10^–2 mol/l sodium salicylate solution, adjusted to pH 4.0–5.0 with 0.5% triphenylphosphine oxide dissolved in toluene as an extractant. After stripping from the organic phase with 0.5 mol/l HCl it can be subsequently determined spectrophotometrically with Alizarin Red S. The method permits a separation of Sc(III) from Ti(IV), V(V), Cr(VI), Fe(III), Y(III), La(III), Ce(III), Nd(III) and Sm(III) in synthetic mixtures. The method is fast, simple and selective. Received: 6 May 1996 / Revised: 21 July 1996 / Accepted: 25 July 1996