Synthetic Inorganic Ion-Exchange Materials. XIX. Ion-Exchange Behavior and Separation of Alkaline Earth Metals on Crystalline Antimonic(V) Acid as a Cation Exchanger

A study of the distribution coefficients on crystalline antimonic(V) acid (C-SbA) as a cation exchanger shows an unusual affinity series (Mg < Ba < Ca < Sr) for microamounts of alkaline earth metals in a nitric acid solution. An extremely slow rate of adsorption was observed for calcium and strontium ions on the exchanger. On the basis of the distribution coefficients, the effective separation of Mg2 +-Ba2 +, Mg2 +-Cs+-Ba2 +, and Mg2 +-Cs+-Ca2 +, Sr2 + has been achieved with a small column (1.0 or 2.0 × 0.4 cm i.d.) of C-SbA.