Anreicherung von Spuren Seltener Erden aus Mineralwässern durch Ionenaustausch

In the described analysis of mineral waters, after the throughflow of the sample through a column with Dowex 50 WX 12 in H⁺ form, the main cations are first eluted by 1.6 N HCl and then the rare earths by 6 N HCl. The latter are separated by ion-exchange chromatography on Dowex 50WX8 in NH₄ ⁺ form, the elution being performed with ammonium citrate pH 4.19. The presence of rare earths in the eluate was ascertained spectrophotometrically by means of their reaction with xylenol orange in the presence of cetylpyridinium bromide. In mineral waters from the West-Bohemian spa region it was possible to find traces of trivalent La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm + Gd, Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.