PURPOSE: To separate and purify rare-earth elements having close atomic numbers in high purity, by introducing a solution containing rare-earth elements while continuously supplying an acidic aqueous solvent to a specific stationary phase and subjecting the solution to centrifugal liquid-liquid partition chromatography.
CONSTITUTION: A chelate extractant in a stationary phase liquid tank 12 is dissolved in an organic solvent, supplied with a pump 7 through a six-way valve 6 and a four-way valve 5 and filled as a stationary phase in a partition cell 1 of centrifugal liquid-liquid partition chromatography and th rotor 2 is rotated at 500W2,000rpm by driving a driving shaft 3. An acidic aqueous solvent is supplied as a mobile phase from a mobile phase liquid tank 13 through the pump 7 and the valves 6, 5 to the partition cell 1. At the same time, a liquid containing rare-earth element is introduced into the mobile phase from a specimen-injection device 8, transferred to the partition cell 1 via a liquid feeding and discharging joint 4b and the driving shaft 3 and mixed under stirring. The rare-earth elements are partitioned in the stationary phase in mutually separated state, eluted with the acidic aqueous solvent and collected and recovered in a fraction collector 11 via a monitor 9.
ARAKI NAGAO
NUNOGAKI YOSHIAKI
MURAYAMA WATARU
