Solvent-Impregnated Sorbents for Tantalum from Niobium Separation Using a Fixed-Bed Column

Reactor-grade niobium steel is used as a construction material for nuclear reactors. In this case, the presence of tantalum, which is characterized by a 20 times higher active cross section for capturing thermal neutrons than the cross section of niobium (¹⁸¹Ta: 21.3 barn), cannot exceed 100 ppm. Analytical methods for quality and new separation method development control need very pure niobium matrices—niobium compounds with a low tantalum content, which are crucial for preparing matrix reference solutions or certified reference materials (CRMs). Therefore, in this paper, a new, efficient method for separating trace amounts of Ta(V) from Nb(V) using extraction chromatography with the use of sorbents impregnated with methyl isobutyl ketone MIBK solvent is proposed. Various types of MIBK-impregnated sorbents were used (AG® 1-X8 Anion Exchange Resin, AMBERLITE™ IRC120 Na Ion Exchange Resin, SERVACEL® Cellulose Anion Exchangers DEAE 52, active carbons of various grain size, carbonized blackcurrant pomace, carbonized chokeberry pomace, bentonite, and polyurethane foam in lumps). The highest tantalum removal efficiency was determined using active coal-based materials (>97%). The separation effectivity of tantalum from niobium was also determined in dynamic studies using a fixed-bed column with MIBK-impregnated active carbon. Solutions of various Nb:Ta weight ratios (1:1, 100:1, 1000:1) were used. The most impressive result was obtaining 70 mL of high purity niobium solution of tantalum content 0.027 ppm (in relation to Nb) with 88.4% yield of niobium from a solution of Nb:Ta, weight ratio 1000:1 (purge factor equaled 35,000). It proves the presented system to be applicable for preparation of pure niobium compounds with very low contents of tantalum.