Abstract
he separation of niobium and tantalum was examined by using macroporous polyacrylate polymer beads (Amberlite XAD-7) as an adsorbent in hydrofluoric acid-hydrochloric acid mixtures. The adsorption of niobium and tantalum was measured as a function of each acidic concentration; it was found that niobium showed a lesser adsorption than did tantalum, and that both metals could be released by weakly acidic solutions. Column chromatography was carried out using the resin as a stationary phase and acidic solutions of appropriate concentrations as a mobile phase. The niobium and tantalum were successfully separated from each other, and application to a multielemental sample containing both metals was also demonstrated. By using this chromatographic system, trace tantalum was effectively removed from the niobium matrix.
