Extraction Chromatography Materials Prepared with HDEHP on Different Inorganic Supports for the Separation of Gadolinium and Terbium

Abstract

Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) is frequently used as an extractant in the separation and recovery of lanthanides by solvent extraction and extraction chromatography, where HDEHP (stationary phase) is fixed on an inert support and the mobile phase is an aqueous solution. Because the results of extraction chromatography strongly depend on the support material, in this study, we aim to prepare solid extractants (extraction chromatography materials) with different inorganic supports impregnated with HDEHP for the adsorption of Gd and Tb from HCl solutions, putting emphasis on the effect of the supports on the solid extractant behavior. Gd and Tb partition data were determined in HCl solutions from the prepared extraction chromatography materials using elution analysis. Solid extractants were characterized by X-Ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy in order to determine their properties and to explain their extraction behavior. The characterization of the solid extractants showed a heterogeneous distribution of the HDEHP on the surfaces of the different supports studied. The irregular shape of the support particles produces discontinuous and heterogenous silanization and HDEHP coatings on the support surface, affecting the retention performance of the solid extractant and the chromatographic resolution.