METHOD OF SEPARATING LUTETIUM AND YTTERBIUM BY CHROMATOGRAPHY Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC B01D15/08 C22B59/00 C22B3/24 

FIELD: technological processes.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to separation of rare-earth elements by chromatography, namely to a method of separating lutetium and ytterbium from acid solutions of processing irradiated ytterbium-176 targets by ion-exchange chromatography. Method involves sorption of cotonite and elution of lutetium and ytterbium with complexone solution at high temperature using system, consisting of at least two series-connected columns with decreasing diameter, filled with sulphocationite in copper or nickel form. Separation of ytterbium and lutetium is carried out in the presence of a divalent ion of a stable intercalator element selected from a group of cobalt, lead or zinc, taken in amount of mg-eq, which is not less than 80% of the total capacity (in mg-eq) of the last column. Eluent used is a solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or nitrilotriacetic acid.

EFFECT: high degree of chromatographic separation of lutetium and ytterbium from acid solutions from processing of the ytterbium-176 target.

4 cl, 6 dwg, 1 tbl, 6 ex