Neutron activation analysis of rare earth impurities in europium oxide

A neutron activation analysis method for determining Yb, Dy, Ho, Sm and La impurities in europium oxide with sensitivities of 10^?5 to 10^?7% is described. The method is based on a preliminary concentration of the rare earth elements by reducing europium(III) with zinc to europium(II), and separating the trivalent rare earth elements by extraction chromatography. After neutron irradiation, the individual radioisotopes of the rare earth elements are separated by using KU-2 cation exchange resin and ammonium α-hydroxyisobutyrate solution as the eluant.     

Ion interaction chromatography of nitrilotriacetatocomplexes of the rare earth elements with post-column reaction detection

The chromatographic behaviour of nitrilotriacetatocomplexes of the rare earth elements (Sc, Y and lanthanides) on a reversed phase ODS column has been investigated in the presence of 1-octane-sulphonate. There is a great difference in selectivity for the ODS among the rare earth nitrilotriacetato-complexes. Concentration gradient elution with nitrilotriacetic acid (0.005-0.050M, pH 3.0) that contains 0.01M 1-octanesulphonate allows the rare earth elements to be separated from each other within 30 min at room temperature, except a Gd-Eu pair which is eluted together. Yttrium elutes at about 10 min between samarium and neodymium. Detection and quantitation of the rare earth elements can be achieved by post-column reaction with Chlorophosphonazo III in acid media at 700 nm.     

Study on the comparator method using substoichiometry

The comparator method using substoichiometry is developed. In the method, the contents of the elements can be determined simultaneously by the measurement of radioactivities of the comparator elements and of simultaneously separated parts of the elements in question. The method is applied to the simultaneous determination of rare earth elements, such as lanthanum, europium and terbium in NBS botanical standard reference materials. It is confirmed that the method is reliable for simultaneous multielement determination.     

Separation of rare earth elements by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Besides being widely used in electronic and glass industries, rare earth elements have recently been found to have important biological effects including the ability to stabilize and enhance interferon activity [J.J. Sedmak and S.E. Grossberg, J. Gen. Virol, 52 (1981) 195]. In this paper, the rare earth elements have been separated using a high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) centrifuge equipped with three multilayer coils connected in series. Two-phase solvent systems were composed of n-heptane containing di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (stationary phase) and dilute hydrochloric acid (mobile phase) where the partition coefficient of each can be optimized by selecting the proper hydrochloric acid concentration. The mobile phase was eluted through the column at a flow-rate of 5 ml/min, while the apparatus was rotated at 900 rpm. Continuous detection of the rare earth elements was effected by means of a post-column reaction with arsenazo III and the elution curve was obtained by on-line monitoring at 650 nm. Excellent isocratic separations of closely related rare earth elements were achieved at high partition efficiencies up to several thousand theoretical plates. Versatility of the present method was demonstrated in an exponential gradient elution of hydrochloric acid concentration where fourteen rare earth elements were all resolved in about 4.5 h.     

Radiochemical separation and determination of europium by Ge(Li) detector in biological tissues

A simple neutron activation method has been developed for the determination of europium in biological tissues and applied in the analysis of marine organism samples with ±9% precision at the nanogram level. The method is based on the separation, by ion-exchange, of the rare earth group from dry or ashed irradiated tissues and subsequent determination of^152mEu, by γ-spectrometry using a lithium drifted germanium detector.^152mEu, separated almost completely from other than rare earth elements, with better than 98% chemical yield, is counted on the 121.8 keV photopeak which then is practically free from any other γ-ray energy interfering in this counting.     

Neutron activation analysis of rare earth impurities in metallic uranium

A method with a sensitivity of 2·10⁻⁷ to 1·10⁻¹⁰% has been developed for determining Yb, Ho, Dy, Gd, Eu, Sm and La impurities in metallic uranium by means of neutron activation. The method is based on a preliminary chromatographic separation of the total amount of rare earth elements from uranium by passing the solution in sulphuric acid through KU-2 cation exchange resin and eluting the traces of uranium retained by the resin with a solution of ascorbic acid. The rare earth impurities are then eluted from the resin with 4–5N HCl, evaporated, and irradiated for 20 hours with a neutron flux of 1.2·10¹³ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹. Subsequently the traces of the rare earth elements are co-precipitated with Fe(OH)₃, dissolved in concentrated HCl and separated from the iron and other impurities by passing the solution through Dowex 1X8 anion exchange resin in the chloride form. The individual rare earth elements are then separated from each other using KU-2 cation exchange resin and a solution of ammonium α-hydroxyisobutyrate as the eluant.     

阳离子交换树脂分离富集-ICP-AES法测定地质样品中15种稀土元素

样品用四酸(盐酸+硝酸+高氯酸+氢氟酸)溶解,经阳离子交换树脂分离富集后用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)同时测定其中的15种的稀土元素。选用HCl(1.2mol/L)作平衡液和淋洗液,HCl(4.0mol/L)作洗脱液进行实验,测量时选择最佳的分析谱线从而避开杂质峰的干扰。各稀土元素的方法检出限均低于1.5μg/g,相对标准偏差小于11%。经标准物质验证结果可靠,适合地质样品中稀土元素的同时测量。     

Microchemical determination of nine rare earth elements in silicate rocks by cation-exchange preconcentration — Ion-interaction chromatography

Summary A method of applying ion-interaction chromatography to the determination of the rare earth elements in silicate rocks on a 100 to 200 mg sample basis has been developed. The rare earths are first separated as a group from matrices by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrochloric acid-thiocyanate media and isolated in a small, defined volume (3.00 ml). Using fractions of this, on-column concentration of the rare earths on a C-18 bonded phase silica coated with 1-octanesulfonate and a subsequent concentration gradient elution with glycolate (0.05 to 0.35 M) at pH 3.5 allows the respective separation of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Y (100 l aliquot used) and of Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu (2.00 ml aliquot used). Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, and Dy elute together, and Ho is not sufficiently well resolved from these middle rare earth elements. The eluted rare earth elements are detected and quantified by post-column reaction with Arsenazo III photometrically, using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 650 nm. The method is shown to be capable of determining nine of the rare earth elements in a variety of international reference rock samples with good precision and accuracy.     

Abtrennung und radiochemische Bestimmung geringer Mengen Seltener Erden in extraterrestrischem Material

The detection limits in neutron activation analysis are up to the standards of extraterrestrical matter analysis. Instrumental analysis is possible only after a group separation of the rare earth elements. The measurements requires a 26 day decay period. If results are desired within a shorter time interval the individual rare earth elements have to be separated. Gas chromatography and electrophoresis were applied in this work. Gas chromatography of metal chelates using radioactive reagents with high specific activity significantly improves the detection limits. The gas-chromatographic separations, however, should be only regarded as model experiments. The experimental results were obtained much faster (within 12 h) by applying high voltage electrophoresis of rare earth elements. Because of the excellent separation, the rare earth elements can be determined by automatic β-liquid scintillation spectrometry with high counting yields.     

Chromatographic separation of trivalent actinides and rare earth elements by using pyridine type resin

Summary In order to develop the partitioning-transmutation system for the reduction of high-level radioactive wastes, the group and mutual separation of actinides and rare earth elements in spent fuels is required. In the present work, a chromatographic separation of trivalent actinides (Am and Cm) and rare earth elements was examined in hydrochloric acid/methanol mixed solvents by using a pyridine resin embedded in high-porous silica beads. In a 70 vol% hydrochloric acid (11.7 mol HCl/dm³)/30 vol% methanol mixed solvent, the elution curves of the trivalent actinides were separated completely from those of rare earth elements at room temperature. The present paper discusses the separation behavior of trivalent actinides and rare earth elements as a function of flow rate, temperature and solvent compositions.     

食用菌中稀土元素的分离富集-ICP-AES法测定

采用强酸型阳离子交换树脂分离富集-ICP-AES法同时测定食用菌中的稀土元素,排除了高含量的K、Na、Ca、Mg等非稀土元素的基体干扰,并对分析谱线的选择、样品消解方法、仪器工作条件和分离富集条件进行了研究。方法回收率为92.2%~104.2%,相对标准偏差为1.4%~9.7%。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定三水铝土矿中的15种有效稀土元素

建立电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定三水铝土矿中15种有效稀土元素的分析方法。参考三水铝土矿中有效铝的概念,提出了有效稀土元素的概念,并对三水铝土矿中稀土元素的回收利用的可行性进行了评价。模拟低温拜耳法生产氧化铝的工艺,对三水铝土矿中稀土元素溶出过程中的氢氧化钠浓度、溶出温度及时间等条件进行了试验,采用90 g/L氢氧化钠结合微波消解技术对三水铝土矿进行分解,用ICP-MS法测定有效稀土元素,有效稀土元素测定结果的相对标准偏差为0.92%~7.40%(n=7),回收率为98.6%~101.2%。该方法可用于测定三水铝土矿中有效稀土元素,能够对三水铝土矿中稀土元素的回收利用价值进行评价。     

Mutual Separation of Rare Earths in Monazite with Cation Exchange Elution Chromatography

Mutual separation of the individual rare earth elements (exception of cerium) in monazite from different districts was investigated by cation exchange elution method. Strong acid type cation exchange resin, Bio-Rad AG 50 Wx8 and eluting solution of a α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (α-HIBA) were used. Radioactivity tagged Eu-152, 154 or Tb-160 were used as radio active indicator for determination of the distribution coefficients by batch method or for the study of column elution conditions. By gradiently increase of the pH values from 3 to 5 in 0.3 M α-HIBA eluting solution, complete mutual separation of individual rare earth elements, exception of Dy and Y, were obtained. Dy and Y could not be separated by this scheme of separation and their elution zones were overlapped. Rare earth mixture samples of monazite from different districts were separated with this scheme and these results were compared. From this comparison followings were noticed; 1. Compositions of rare earth elements in monazite from different districts are evidently not alike. 2. Samples from Brazil and Southwestern Coast of Taiwan are much more alike in their compositions but not for those from Australia and Outskirt Island. 3. Sample from Outskirt Island has higher in contents of heavier rare earths and also Nd was higher than La.     

茶叶中稀土元素的萃取分离-ICP-AES法测定

采用1-苯基-3-甲基-4-苯甲酰基-5-吡唑酮(PMBP)苯溶液萃取分离-ICP-AES法同时测定茶叶中15种稀土元素,消除了基体的干扰,并对样品前处理方法、萃取分离条件进行了考查.方法回收率为: 92.3%～112%,相对标准偏差＜2.5%.在最佳工作条件下,测定了茶叶标准物质(GBW07605)中稀土元素,结果与标准值吻合.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Séparation du thorium et du lanthane par échange ionique

A simple and efficient method for the separation of thorium and lanthanum by ion-exchange is described. Lanthane is eluted first of all with citric acid and then the thorium is separated with sulphuric acid as eluant. The separation is complete and the method can be applied to all the rare earth elements.     

固态化合物中铕的价态研究进展

介绍了近年来关于变价稀土元素Ｅｕ价态研究的最新进展,总结了Ｅｕ＾２＋的价态稳定和转换及其与基质结构,取代离子半径电荷,共掺杂稀土离子电子构型之间的关系和规律。