Multivalent metal ion extraction using diglycolamide-coated particles
AssigneePG Research Foundation
InventorsE. Philip Horwitz, Richard E. Barrans, Jr., Andrew H. Bond
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Abstract
A separation medium, a method for using that separation medium and an apparatus for selectively extracting multivalent cations such as pseudo-lanthanide, prelanthanide, lanthanide, preactinide or actinide cations from an aqueous acidic sample solution is described. The separation medium is preferably free-flowing and comprises particles having a diglycolamide (DGA) extractant dispersed onto an inert, porous support.
Claims11
A method for separating a predetermined multivalent cation having a crystal ionic radius of about 0.8 to about 1.2 Angstroms (Å) from an aqueous sample comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting a separation medium 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, said separation medium comprising a diglycolamide extractant corresponding in structure to Formula I dispersed onto a porous inert resin or silica support,
- wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and are hydrido or hydrocarbyl groups such that R1+R2+R3+R4 contains about 14 to about 56 carbon atoms;
- (b) maintaining said contacting for a time period sufficient for the predetermined multivalent cations to be extracted from the aqueous sample 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.