Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 24(12), 1643 (2008).

Use of Yttrium Phosphate as a Coprecipitant for Separation/Concentration of Lanthanoids
Shigehiro KAGAYA,* Yasuko ARAKI,** Kayoko KAKEHASHI,* Noriyasu HIRAI,* Kaori SAKAI,* and Koji TOHDA*
*Graduate School of Science and Engineering for Research, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
**Products Evaluation and Quality Analysis Research Laboratories, Kuracie Pharma Ltd.,3-1 Kanebo-machi, Takaoka 933-0856, Japan
A useful method to separate/concentrate lanthanoids was developed based on a rapid coprecipitation technique using yttrium phosphate. Lanthanoids, which were quantitatively coprecipitated at pH 3 with yttrium phosphate, could be readily determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with indium used as an internal standard element. The detection limits ranged from 0.0003 μg (Yb, Lu) to 0.0099 μg (Er) in 100 mL of sample solutions. The proposed method was applicable to the separation/concentration of lanthanoids in NIST SRM 1515 (apple leaves).