High‐Performance Liquid and Ion Chromatography: Separation and Quantification Analytical Techniques for Rare Earth Elements

Abstract

High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ion chromatography (HPIC) have been widely used as cheap, relatively rapid, precise and accurate separation and quantification analytical techniques for the rare earth elements (REE). In this “Back to Basics” review, a general description of the basic components of instrumentation and the most common detectors is presented, with special attention to separation conditions and chromatographic quality parameters for the REEs. Also included is a brief survey of the literature on the use of HPLC and HPIC in the determination of REEs in synthetic solutions as well as other matrices such as nuclear fuels and geochemical reference materials. For a proper evaluation of HPLC and HPIC applications, and use of these techniques by other researchers it is recommended that parameters such as the amount and uncertainty estimates of an element injected, eluents and post‐column reagents and information on linear or complex gradients and detector system set‐up, should always be reported or relevant literature references provided. Finally, a brief account is also presented on state‐of‐the‐art liquid chromatography known as ultra high‐ or extremely high‐performance liquid chromatography, which has high potential for a diversity of applications in all scientific and engineering fields including the Earth Sciences.

An Ion Chromatography Method for the Determination of Major Anions In Geothermal Water Samples

“…Efficiencies in terms of plate number can vary from a few hundred to several hundred thousand. A plate number of at least N > 2000 is a desirable value (Weston andBrown 1997, Verma andSantoyo 2007). In this study, the number of plates was 4450,12134,11037,12473,12188,7799 and 10079 for F -, Cl -, NO 2 -, Br -, NO 3 -, PO 4 3-and SO 4 2-respectively, which was sufficient for all calibration points (Table 1).…”

Modeling Preparative Chromatographic Separation of Heavy Rare Earth Elements and Optimization of Thulium Purification

“…The Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are Scandium and Yttrium and the members of the Lanthanide group in the periodic table. Many of these metals are used in batteries, lasers, capacitors, superconductors [1], which make the purification process demanding through high purity requirements in some of these applications. Current industrial separation methods include liquid-liquid extraction, selective oxidation/reduction, and ion exchange chromatography [2]- [5].…”

“…Current industrial separation methods include liquid-liquid extraction, selective oxidation/reduction, and ion exchange chromatography [2]- [5]. Extraction chromatography is commonly used for analytical purposes [1] [6]- [9].…”

Determination of rare earth elements and other trace elements (Y, Mn, Co, Cr) in seawater using Tm addition and Mg(OH)2 co-precipitation

“…A number of methods have been successfully developed in the past for preconcentrating trace elements and separating the salt matrix prior to ICP-MS analysis (e.g. separation using chromatography [1], solid phase extraction [2], liquid-liquid extraction [3,4], ion exchange resins [5][6][7], electrochemical deposition [8], or coprecipitation). For instance, co-precipitation techniques involve the precipitation of solidphases (typically hydroxides), which act as selective scavengers for a number of dissolved species naturally present in seawater, thereby leading to significant trace element preconcentration from the seawater matrix.…”