PURPOSE: To separate rare earth elements in high separation efficiency by using a granular cation exchanger most of which is granules having specified sphericity or below and a complexing agent.
CONSTITUTION: A developing tower provided with a jacket is packed with a granular cation exchanger ≥95% of which is granules having ≤2.0 roundness (ratio of the maximum diameter of each granule passing through the center of gravity to the minimum diameter). An acceptor soln. is supplied to convert the exchanger into an acceptor type one, and by feeding an adsorbing soln. contg. a mixture of rare earth elements and a complexing agent, an adsorption zone for rare earth elements is formed. A soln. contg. a complexing agent is then fed to shift the zone by displacement development. A soln. flowing out of the lower part of the tower with the development is taken out fractionally.
TAKEDA KUNIHIKO
ONIZUKA HATSUKI
OKUYAMA KAZUO
SHIMAMURA YASUKI
