Separation of niobium using silica gel and its application to niobium analysis

Naganuma, Kazuki*; Matsueda, Makoto   ; Yanagisawa, Kayo   ; Oikawa, Hiroshi*; Hashimoto, Junichi*; Takagai, Yoshitaka*

In this study, the adsorption of niobium (Nb) on silica gel was investigated and the application to the Nb analysis was demonstrated. Here, a solution containing 67 elements was passed through a column packed with silica gel. The impact of acidic concentration (HCl or HNO) and pH on the adsorption was investigated. Adsorption property was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and the efficiencies of adsorption and recovery processes were calculated. The element selectivity for Nb was very high, and the efficiency of adsorption was over 90% under strong acid conditions. Also the adsorbed Nb was successfully eluted from the silica gel column. The adsorption capacities on silica gels depended on the particle diameter and pore size of the adsorbent.