Separation of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV) from mixtures by extraction chromatography with trioctylphosphine oxide.

The reversed-phase extraction chromatographic separation of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV) from several elements with trioctylphosphine oxide as extractant is reported. Selenium was extracted from 6M hydrochloric acid containing 7M lithium chloride was stripped with 4M hydrochloric acid, and tellurium was extracted from either the same medium as selenium or from 4M hydrochloric acid, and stripped with 1-2M hydrochloric acid. Selenium and tellurium can be separated from multicomponent mixtures.