Column chromatographic separation of Ce(III) from U(VI) and other elements in hippuric acid medium as an analytical application of poly[dibenzo-18-crown-6]

A simple and efficient column chromatographic method has been developed for the separation of Ce(III) from U(VI) and Ni(II)/Zn(II)/Cd(II)/Co(II)/Ba(II) etc. using poly[dibenzo-18-crown-6] as stationary phase and hippuric acid as a counter ion. HCl and H2SO4 were most efficient eluting agents for Ce(III). The capacity of crown polymer for Ce(III) was found to be 0.285 +/- A 0.01 mmol/g. The tolerance limits of various cations and anions for Ce(III) were determined. Ce(III) was quantitatively separated from U(VI) and Ni(II)/Zn(II)/Cd(II)/Co(II)/Ba(II) in binary as well as multicomponent mixtures. The good separation yields were obtained and had good reproducibility (+/- 2 %). The method incorporated the determination of Ce(III) in real sample. The method was simple, rapid and selective.