Propylsulfonic acid-bonded silica stationary phase through mercapto oxidation for chromatographic separation of rare earth elements

The selective separation and precise analysis of rare earth elements (REEs) in impurity-laden matrices constitute persistent challenges. Among available separation techniques, ion-exchange chromatography has gained prominence as an effective approach for REE purification. However, the quest for a high-performance stationary phase preparation method continues to be a focal point. Herein, a propylsulfonic acid-functionalized stationary phase (Sil-SH-SCX) was developed through γ-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTS) grafting followed by oxidation. The Sil-SH-SCX demonstrated excellent chromatographic performance, achieving efficient separation of REEs with resolution ranging from 4.2 to 12.6 for adjacent lanthanides. Besides, the Sil-SH-SCX column displayed high repeatability (RSD < 0.99%, n  = 10) and stability (RSD < 1.5%, n  = 30). Taking advantage of its excellent separation performance, Sil-SH-SCX was successfully applied for the sensitive determination of REEs with excellent linearity ( R 2  = 0.996–0.999, 1–500 mg L −1 ). This work provided an insight into the design of a chromatography stationary phase and expanded its potential application in REE analysis and purification. Graphical abstract The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.