Separation of rhenium by thin-layer chromatography with polyethyleneimine cellulose in hydrochloric acid media

Summary The thin-layer chromatographic behavior of 49 inorganic ions on polyethyleneimine (PEI) cellulose has been investigated in hydrochloric acid media (0.01–1.0 mol dm⁻³). The sorption on the cellulose decreases with increasing acid concentration for most of the ions, but As(III), Ti(IV) and Te(VI) do not exhibit any R_f variation with the acid concentration. The R_f spectra of TI(I), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) have a maximum. Ag(I), Bi(III), Nb(V), Ta(V), Mo(VI) and W(VI) are retained tightly on the layer, due to either insoluble salt formation or extensive hydrolysis. The extremely low R_f values of Hg(II), Pd(II), Au(III), Ru(III) and Pt(IV) are accounted for by stability of their chlorocomplexes. Re(VII) distributes chromatographically, having moderate R_f values between 0.3 and 0.6, so that the selective separation of Re(VII) from the other ions is feasible.