Studies of applicability of various anion-exchangers to purification of yttrium

Yttrium purification from neodymium and samarium admixtures has been studied by the frontal analysis technique in a macro-microcomponent system on anion exchangers of various types (LnEDTA- -R2H2EDTA). Anion exchangers differing by their cross-linking, functional group basicity and matrix porosity were studied to this aim. The best results were obtained with the strongly basic gelatinated anion exchangers Dowex 2 x 8 (Type 2), Dowex 1 x 8 (Type 1) and with the weakly basic microporous anion exchanger Lewatit MP 7080. Those anion exchangers can be applied to remove neodymium and samarium admixtures from yttrium on the synthetic scale. 17 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs. (author)