PURPOSE: To easily and efficiently extract and separate the contained metallic element in a continuous operation by decomposing and extracting a material to be treated in the coexistence of a solvent at high temp. and pressure, and then subjecting the solvent to ion exchange under high pressure.
CONSTITUTION: A material 6 to be treated contg. chlorides of Sm and Gd, for example, is arranged in a vessel 5 kept at high temp. and pressure. A solvent 2 such as aq. NaOH is supplied to the vessel 5 from a liq. reservoir 1. An aq. soln. of alkali, acid, salt, etc., and water, etc., are used as the solvent. The vessel 5 is kept at 150°C and 300atm and agitated, if necessary, by an agitator 7. Consequently, the material 6 is decomposed, and metallic elements such as Sm and Gd are extracted into the solvent 2. The solvent 2 is then passed through a ion-exchange column 8 to adsorb the Sm3+, Gd3+, etc., in the solvent 2 under high pressure or under high temp. and pressure. An eluent 4 such as an aq. EDTA soln. is supplied to the column 8 from a liq. reservoir 3, and the adsorbed Sm3+, Gd3+, etc., are decomposed, separated and recovered.
KITAGAWA KAZUO
MORITOKI MASATO
