Separation of rare earth metals with a polymeric microcapsule membrane

In this study, we investigate the mutual separation of lanthanoids by using a column packed with the microcapsules containing acidic organophosphorus compound as an extractant. It is found that adsorption and elution of lanthanoids are briefly achieved by selecting pHs of the feed aqueous solution. The mutual separation of lanthanoids is investigated using the adsorption column connected to the development column containing microcapsules. With selecting pHs of the eluent, each metal is separated mutually in more than 95% of purity. In addition, a numerical solution of breakthrough curve for an adsorption of rare-earth metal ions is derived.

Mutual separation of lanthanoids was investigated using a column packed with microcapsules. Using the apparatus having an adsorption and development column, each lanthanoid was separated in more than 95% purity. A simple model to predict the breakthrough curve was also derived. The obtained numerical solution is simple and can easily predict a shape of breakthrough curves. Considering these results, it will be possible to apply the column packed with the microcapsules as a separation unit for lanthanoids.