Lutetium and Ytterbium Separation by Ion-Exchange Chromatography

Abstract

The results of separation the heavy rare-earth elements pair lutetium–ytterbium by ion-exchange chromatography are presented. The technological properties of modern absorbers of strong-sulfuric-acid cationites Purolite C160 and Cybber KX 100 are analyzed. The conditions for extracting lutetium with determination of the main factors – complex-forming substance, conditions of utilization, application of different moderators, elution rate, specific load, and others – are studied. It is shown that lutetium–ytterbium separation with production of fractions containing ≥99.9% Lu with concentration 1 g/liter and Yb concentration ≤0.5 mg/liter is possible in principle. A fraction with the maximum lutetium concentration 3.6–3.7 g/liter and ytterbium concentration 0.3–0.37 g/liter, corresponding to lutetium content 91–92%, was separated.