Determination of traces of rare earth elements in high-purity uranium by ion-exchange separation and neutron activation γ-spectrometry

Neutron activation γ-spectrometry is sufficiently sensitive for the determination of traces of rare earth elements but quantitative separation from uranium is essential. The rare earth elements in 0.2 M ammonium carbonate medium are quantitatively retained on Chelex-100, and are quantitatively separated from uranium by recycling the eluate. When 10-g samples are used, neutron activation provides detection limits of 1–20 μg kg^?1. Recoveries of rare earths, checked by spiking with radiotracers, are essentially complete.     

Preorganized, cone-conformational calix[4]arene possessing four propylenephosphonic acids with high extraction ability and separation efficiency for trivalent rare earth elements

p-t-Octylcalix[4]arene with tetraphosphonic acid at lower rim in cone conformation has been designed and synthesized as a new extraction reagent to investigate the extraction behavior of the nine trivalent rare earth elements: La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Y, and Er. The extraction of rare earth metals with the present extractant occurs by a simple ion-exchange mechanism. The stoichiometry of the extractant to rare earth metal ion was determined to be 2:1 based on the extraction equation, half pH values, pH_1/2, and the difference in the values of the extraction equilibrium constants of nine trivalent rare earth elements and separation factors between adjacent rare earth elements. This allowed for comparison of the estimated extraction efficiency and selectivity. The present extractant exhibited extremely high extractability and sufficiently high separation efficiency of rare earth metals, compared with calix[4]arene tetraphosphonic acid at upper rim, calix[4]arene tetraacetic acid at lower rim as previously reported and the commercial extraction reagent. This results was attributed to size and multidentate effects based on the preorganized cyclic structure of calix[4]arene and to the original selectivity of functional group for heavier rare earth elements.     

Dynamic ion-exchange chromatography with post-column reaction detection for the determination of the rare earth elements in monazites

Summary Separation and determination of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium in monazites have been achieved by dynamic ion-exchange chromatography. The ore samples are decomposed by sulfuric acid and the rare earths are separated in a group as oxalates. The rare earth elements are then separated from each other on a column of bonded phase silica by gradient elution with 0.05 to 0.5 M lactic acid (pH 3.5) in the presence of 0.01 M sodium 1-octanesulfonate. Post-column reaction with Arsenazo III is used for detection and quantification of the individual rare earth elements. Results are quoted for lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium in monazites. Detection limit is 1 μg ml⁻¹ with a S/N ratio of 3. The separation is complete within 27 min valley to valley resolution. Precision of better than 1% can usually be obtained.     

Opportunities and challenges of high-pressure ion exchange chromatography for nuclide separation and enrichment

With the rapid development of the nuclear industry, more-stringent requirements are proposed for high-level radioactive waste liquid treatment and the enrichment of isotope products. High-pressure ion exchange chromatography has been widely accepted for the fine separation of elements and nuclides due to its advantages, such as high efficiency, environmental friendliness, ease of operation, and feasibility for large-scale industrial applications. Here, we summarized the evolution of high-pressure ion exchange chromatography and the relevant research progress in ion exchange equilibrium and related separation technology. The prospects for application of high-pressure ion exchange chromatography to rare earth elements, actinide elements and isotope separation were discussed. High-pressure ion exchange chromatography represents a promising strategy for the extraction of rare earth elements and actinide elements from high-level radioactive waste liquid, as well as being an effective method for the automated production of high purity isotope products with great environmental benefits.     

Radionuclide detection by ion-chromatography and on-line ICP/MS and beta detection: Fission product rare earth element measurements

Separation and analysis of²³⁵U fission produced rare earth elements (REE) is described. Rare earth elements were separated using a high presure ion chromatographic separation where by each rare earth is isolated and individually detected. Detection is performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) and solid scintillation beta counting. The resulting detection methods allow complete evaluation of all stable (non-radioactive) and many radioactive REE fission products. The two detection methods (ICP/MS and Beta) illustrate how mass selective and radiometric data can be used to provide complimentary information regarding the isotopic characterization of radioactive samples.Pacific Northwest Laboratory is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Battelle Memorial Institute under Contract DE-AC06-76RLO 1830.     

Direct determination of trace rare earth elements in high purity Y2O3 using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling

A new method for the determination of trace amounts of 14 rare earth elements in high purity Y₂O₃ using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling was developed. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion was used as a fluorinating reagent to promote the vaporization of the analytes from graphite furnace. The main factors affecting analytical signals were investigated systematically. The interference of matrix could be minimized in the presence of PTFE. Under optimum conditions, the detection limits for rare earth elements were 0.032 ng～2.52 ng and the relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.4% to 4.3%. The proposed method was applied to the direct analysis of high purity Y₂O₃ powder with satisfactory results.     

Improved capillary electrophoresis method for measuring rare-earth elements in synthetic geochemical standards

An improved capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for quantifying rare-earth elements (REEs) in synthetic geochemical standards was developed. Synthetic standard solutions were obtained from high purity metal oxides. The separation of REE total group (lanthanum to lutetium) was defined as a primary objective. Special attention was also focused on the optimized separation of europium (Eu) and gadolinium (Gd) because in earlier applications they presented overlapping problems. Their separation and quantitative determinations are essential for geological applications. For the rapid separation of REEs in synthetic geochemical standards, the temperature of the separation device was optimized. An analysis temperature of 15 degrees C enabled both the rapid separation of REEs within 2 min and the overlapping problem of Eu-Gd to be resolved. The detection limits (<0.1 ng) and precision estimates (generally better than 5%) were found to be satisfactory for most geological applications.     

In-situ vaporization and matrix removal for the determination of rare earth impurities in zirconium dioxide by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A novel method for the determination of trace rare earth impurities in ZrO₂ powder has been developed based on electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. A polytetrafluoroethylene slurry was used as a fluorinating reagent to convert both the matrix (Zr) and the analytes (rare earth elements) into fluorides with different volatilities at a high temperature in a graphite furnace. The more volatile ZrF₄ was removed in-situ by selective vaporization prior to the determination of the analytes, removing matrix spectral interferences. Under optimum operating conditions, the absolute detection limits of the analytes varied from 0.04 ng (Yb) to 0.50 ng (Pr) with relative standard deviations less than 5%. The recommended approach has been successfully applied to the determination of trace rare earth impurities (La, Pr, Eu, Gd, Ho and Yb) in ZrO₂ powder and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by pneumatic nebulization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after the separation of the matrix using a solvent extraction procedure.     

稀土元素分离检测技术新进展

对2003年以来稀土元素分离检测技术的新进展进行了评述，重点集中于各种新型分离技术、新型检测技术及其在稀土元素分析中的应用。对于离子液体、纳米材料、离子印迹聚合物等新型材料以及浊点萃取、膜萃取、毛细管电泳等新型技术在稀士元素分离中的应用进行了详细讨论，并对中子活化分析、等离子体原子发射光谱和等离子体质谱在稀土元素检测中的应用进行了综述，重点讨论了等离子体质谱技术的应用。在回顾稀土元素分离检测技术进展的同时，对其在未来几年的发展趋势进行了评述。     

Spectral interferences in the determination of traces of scandium,yttrium and rare earth elements in “pure” rare earth matrices by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry Part III. Europium

This paper is the third part of a series of papers dealing with spectral interferences of rare earth elements (REEs) in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The present article shows: (a) the spectral data of europium interferent for 200 pm wide windows centred (±100 pm) about prominent lines of scandium, yttrium and REEs; (b) the database of Q values for line interference (Q_l) and Q values for (wing) background interference (Q_w); (c) the detection limits measured by using the “true detection limit” criterion as proposed by P.W.J.M. Boumans and J.J.A.M. Vrakking (Spectrochim. Acta Part B, 42 (1987) 819; 43 (1988) 69). Different possibilities for improvement of the true detection limits are discussed: the use of equipment of high resolving power, the application of multicomponent analysis (MCA) techniques and preliminary separation of the matrix component combined with preconcentration of trace REEs. This article is an electronic publication in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica (SAE), the electronic section of Spectrochimica Acta Part B (SAB). The hard copy text is accompanied by a disk with data and text files. The data files comprise in particular the tabular material of this article in electronic form.     

Separation of trivalent rare earths plus sc(iii) from al,ga,in,tl, fe,ti, u and other elements by cation-exchange chromatography

A method is presented for the quantitative separation of the trivalent rare earths plus Sc(III) as a group from Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Tl(III), Fc(III). Ti(IV), U(VI), Be(II). Mn(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II). Zn(II). and Cd(II). These elements can be eluted from a cation-exchange column with 1.75 N HCl, while the rare earth group elements are retained. Numerous other elements not investigated have low distribution coefficients in 1.75 N HCl and therefore should be separated by the same procedure; Th(IV) is retained by the column when the rare earths are elutcd with 3.0 N HCl. The only elements which partially accompany the rare earths plus Sc(III) are Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Sr(II), and Ba(II) ; these have to be separated by special procedures. The method is suitable for accurate reference analysis over a wide range of concentrations.     

Determination of trace amounts of rare earth and other elements in rice samples by ICP-AES with sample introduction by tungsten-coil electrothermal vaporization

Summary A device with tungsten-coil electrothermal vaporization for sample introduction into ICP has been proposed. It was applied to the determination of trace amounts of rare earth and other elements in rice samples. Several influencing factors were investigated in detail, such as drying and vaporization parameters, carrier gas flow rate, volume of vaporization chamber and matrix effects. Under optimal experimental conditions, the detection limits for Mg, Cu, Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni and eight rare earth elements are of the order of 10⁻⁹−10⁻¹¹ g. The detection limits for the rare earth elements tested by the present method are comparable to and, in most instances, exceed those for the GFAAS and conventional pneumatic nebulisation-ICP-AES. A precision with RSD<6% was obtained.     

冷焰ICP-MS法测定高纯稀土氧化物中铁和钙的研究

用冷焰技术对高纯稀土氧化物中Ｆｅ和Ｃａ的分析方法进行了研究。估算了测定范围和检出限,探讨了内标元素对基体影响的校正作用,测定了加标回收率,对半定量法（ＴＱ）和定量法（ＱＡ）的结果作了比较。表明冷焰条件下,痕量Ｆｅ的测定是可行的,但Ｃａ的测定结果仍不理想;ＱＡ法明显优于ＴＱ法。     

Reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography of the rare earth elements

Summary Partition chromatographic behaviour of the rare earth elements on C₁₈ bonded silica reversed-phase material has been investigated by thin-layer chromatography in methanol — lactate media. The rare earth lactato complexes are distributed and fractionated on bonded silica layers without ion-interaction reagents. The concentration and pH of lactate solution, methanol concentration and temperature have effects on the migration and resolution of the rare earth elements. The partition system is particularly suited to separate adjacent rare earths of middle atomic weight groups, allowing the separation of gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium and thulium to be achieved by development to 18 cm distance.     

Direct determination of trace rare earth elements in high purity Y2O3 using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling

A new method for the determination of trace amounts of 14 rare earth elements in high purity Y₂O₃ using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling was developed. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion was used as a fluorinating reagent to promote the vaporization of the analytes from graphite furnace. The main factors affecting analytical signals were investigated systematically. The interference of matrix could be minimized in the presence of PTFE. Under optimum conditions, the detection limits for rare earth elements were 0.032 ng∼2.52 ng and the relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.4% to 4.3%. The proposed method was applied to the direct analysis of high purity Y₂O₃ powder with satisfactory results. Received: 19 June 1999 / Revised: 10 December 1999 / Accepted: 16 December 1999     

An effective process for the separation of U(VI), Th(IV) from rare earth elements by using ionic liquid Cyphos IL 104

Separation and recovery of U(VI) and Th(IV) from rare earth minerals is a very challenging work in rare earth industrial production. In the present study, a homemade membrane emulsification circulation (MEC) extractor was used to separate U(VI) and Th(IV) from rare earth elements by using Cyphos IL 104 as an extractant. Batch experiments were carried out using a constant temperature oscillator to investigate the extraction parameters of the single element and the results indicated that Cyphos IL 104 could reach the extraction equilibrium within 30 min for all the three elements, i.e., U(VI), Th(IV), and Eu(III). Besides, the MEC extractor possessed a strong phase separation ability. The extraction efficiencies of U(VI), Th(IV), La(III), Eu(III) and Yb (III) increased with the increase of pH. La(III), Eu(III) and Yb(III) were hardly extracted when pH ≤ 1.50, which was beneficial for effectively separating U(VI) and Th(IV) from La(III), Eu(III) and Yb(III). In the multi-stages stripping experiments, when the stripping stage number was 3, the effective separation could be achieved by using HCl and H₂SO₄, since the stripping efficiency reached 80.0% and 100.0% for Th(IV) and U(VI), respectively. Slope method and FT-IR spectra showed that Cyphos IL 104 reacted with U(VI) and Th(IV) by chelation mechanism. The extraction of multi-elements indicated that U(VI) and Th(IV) could be well separated from the solution which contains all rare earth elements, and the extraction efficiencies of U(VI) and Th(IV) both were close to 100.0%. Based on the above experimental results, a flowchart for efficient separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) from rare earth elements was proposed.     

Capillary Electrokinetic Chromatography (CEC): An Introduction to a High-Efficiency Microanalytical Technique

Capillary electrokinetic chromatography (CEC, also called capillary electrochromatography) is a relatively new separation technique based on a combination of liquid chromatographic and electrophoretic separation methods. CEC offers both the efficiency of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and the selectivity and sample capacity of packed capillary high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These advantages are provided in part because of the favorable flow characteristics of electroosmosis, a method of pumping a liquid by applying a high potential axially to a thin, fluid-filled tube. The speed at which analytes move through the separation conduit under the influence of electroosmosis is quite uniform, regardless of the position of the analyte with respect to adjacent surfaces (within certain limits). This results in very little spreading of zones of analyte; narrow, compact bands of analytes are therefore maintained, which results in high efficiency. Because the capillaries used in CEC are packed with HPLC packing materials, the wealth of selectivities available in HPLC are also available in CEC. The high surface area of these packing materials enables CEC capillaries to accommodate relatively large amounts of sample, making detection a simpler task than it is in capillary electrophoresis (CE). This paper will briefly visit the theory and practice of CEC, and will provide examples of how CEC can be applied in sample analysis.     

Counter current extraction separation of rare earth traces

The discontinuous counter current extraction separation of radioactive traces of rare earth elements from each other was successfully performed by using a 96 stage automatic microscale counter current apparatus. Choice of the optimum composition of the aqueous phase (var. HNO₃ conc.) and organic phase [di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) in toluene] was made on the basis of the results of liquid-liquid extraction measurements. Providing sufficient content of HDEHP in the organic phase, the presence of macroamounts of uranium(VI) did not interfere with the individual separation of rare earth traces. Consequently, uranium was retained in the organic phase, while separated rare earth traces were redistributed into the aqueous phase. The methods of liquid-liquid extraction and extraction chromatography based on the use of HDEHP were compared. The present results confirm that the liquid-liquid extraction has the advantage to be selective for the separation of rare earth traces from each other and from the macroamount of uranium(VI).     

Indirect ultraviolet detection of alkaline earth metal ions using an imidazolium ionic liquid as an ultraviolet absorption reagent in ion chromatography

A convenient and versatile method was developed for the separation and detection of alkaline earth metal ions by ion chromatography with indirect UV detection. The chromatographic separation of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺ was performed on a carboxylic acid base cation exchange column using imidazolium ionic liquid/acid as the mobile phase, in which the imidazolium ionic liquid acted as an UV‐absorption reagent. The effects of imidazolium ionic liquids, detection wavelength, acids in the mobile phase, and column temperature on the retention of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺ were investigated. The main factors influencing the separation and detection were the background UV absorption reagent and the concentration of hydrogen ion in ion chromatography with indirect UV detection. The successful separation and detection of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺ within 14 min were achieved using the selected chromatographic conditions, and the detection limits (S /N = 3) were 0.06, 0.12, and 0.23 mg/L, respectively. A new separation and detection method of alkaline earth metal ions by ion chromatography with indirect UV detection was developed, and the application range of ionic liquids was expanded.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of low-alloy steel samples

The isolation of transition and rare earth elements from low-alloy steels by liquid chromatography (LC) with post-column reaction detection is described. The eluted metal ions are detected with a UV-visible spectrophotometric detector after post-column complexation with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol and Arsenazo-III. The requirements and characterization of the post-column reaction for the sensitive detection of metal ions after LC separation are discussed. The results are compared with those of other methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.