INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SEPARATION OF NITRATE COMPLEXES OF YTTRIUM(III) FROM NEODYMIUM(III) ON ANION-EXCHANGERS OF DIFFERENT CROSS-LINKING IN THE SYSTEM CH3OH-H2O-HNO3

The application of frontal analysis to the purification of Y(III) from Nd(III) in the aqueous-alcohol medium of nitric acid was studied. Thi s problem was investigated by purifying quantities of yttrium(III) fro m 1% neodymium(III) in the system Ln(NO3)(3)-90% v/v CH3OH+1O% v/v 7 M HNO3, (concentration about 25 g Ln(2)O(3)/dm(3)) on a strongly basic gel anion exchanger (type 1) with different cross-links for comparison strongly basic gel (type 2) and macroporous anion exchangers were use d. The anion-exchangers studied can be presented in the order of their applicability: Dowex I X 4 > Dowex 21K > Dowex 2 X 8 > Dowex 1 X 8 Do wex 1 X 2 > Dowex 1 X 1 > Dowex 1 X 16. The most effective results wer e obtained with the anion exchanger with cross-linking 4% DVB. Using a 1 dm(3) bed of this anion exchanger it is possible to purify 1.348 kg Y2O3 from neodymium; decreasing the neodymium content from 1% to < 0. 001%.