Separating individual rare earth elements from a complex mixture with several elements is difficult and this is emphasized for the middle elements: Samarium, Europium and Gadolinium. In this study we have conducted experiments with the main focus to optimize the productivity rate, subject to a purity requirement of 99%, for each element. This was accomplished through overloaded one-step ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography with an bis (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid impregnated column and nitric acid as eluent. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry unit was used for post column element detection.<br/>The experimental data from the productivity rate optimization was utilized for calibrating a mathematical model of the chromatography process. The calibrated model was employed to investigate a multiobjective optimization strategy with respect to maximizing the productivity, yield and pool concentration.

Optimization of rare earth element chromatography

249th National Meeting (2015)

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