Multivalent metal ion extraction using diglycolamide-coated particles

A method for separating a preselected multivalent cation having a crystal ionic radius of about 0.8 to about 1.2 Ångstroms (Å) from an aqueous sample comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a separation medium of claim 1 with an aqueous sample containing an acid or salting out amount of one or more acids or salting out agents for a neutral extractant and dissolved multivalent cations, including said predetermined multivalent cation;
• (b) maintaining said contact for a time period sufficient for the predetermined multivalent cations to be extracted from the sample solution to the separation medium to form a solid phase loaded separation medium and a liquid phase multivalent cation-depleted sample;
• and
• (c) separating said solid and liquid phases.

A method for separating actinium or yttrium cations from an aqueous sample comprising the steps of:

• (a) passing an acidic aqueous sample containing dissolved actinium or yttrium cations into a separation apparatus comprising a separation vessel that contains separation medium to contact said separation medium with said aqueous acidic sample solution, said separation medium comprising N,N,N′,N′-tetra-n-octyl diglycolamide or N,N,N′,N′-tetra-(2-ethylhexyl) diglycolamide dispersed onto an inert, porous, particulate resin support, said separation medium being free-flowing when dry;
• (b) maintaining said contact for a time period sufficient for the actinium or yttrium cations to be extracted from the sample solution to the separation medium to form a solid phase loaded separation medium and a liquid phase alkaline earth cation-depleted sample;
• (c) separating said solid and liquid phases;
• and
• (d) eluting said actinium or yttrium cations from said loaded separation medium by passing an aqueous dilute hydrochloric acid solution through the loaded separation medium in said separation apparatus.