Elution behavior of metal ions with mixed glycine-nitric acid eluents in Dowex 50W-X8 column: separation of Th(IV), Ce(IV), Bi(III), Fe(III), and Al(III)

Distribution coefficients (K) determined by the batch technique in acidic glycine media using Dowex 50W-X8 cation exchanger (H+-form, 100-200 mesh size) revealed that this medium can effectively be employed to separate a number of tetravalent and trivalent metal ions from bivalent metal ions. In fixed glycine (0.40 M) and varying concentration of nitric acid (0.10 to 1.0 M), a number of mixtures containing two or three metal ions were resolved on columns using about 8 g of exchanger. In 0.40 M glycine-1.0 M HNO3 medium, Th(IV)/Ce(IV) were separated from Al(III)/Fe(III)/Bi(III)/Co(II)/Ni(II)/Cu(II)/Zn(II)/Cd(II)/Hg(II)/Pb(II)/Ag(I) and also Al(III)/Bi(III) from a number of divalent metal ions. In 0.40 M glycine-0.50 M HNO3 medium, the resolution of following ternary mixtures were also achieved: Th(IV)/Ce(IV)-Al(III)/Bi(III)-Fe(III)/Co(II)/Ni(II)/Cu(II)/Zn(II)/Cd(II)/Hg(II)/Pb(II)/Ag(I). Th(IV)/Al(III)/Fe(III)/Bi(III) were also separated from other divalent metal ions in 1.60 M glycine-0.50 M HNO3 medium. The values of K, elution characteristics of metal ions, elution curves, and the results of the resolution of a number of mixtures of metal ions along with standard deviations are reported