Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An apparatus for separating a polyvalent metal species from one or more accompanying impurities comprising at least one vessel, the vessel having an inlet for the introduction of a solution containing the polyvalent metal species, and an outlet for the elution of components of the solution, the vessel being provided with a solid composition comprising:MnO2 and a compound of Formula (I)wherein:R is a polymer;each Y is independently a hydrogen or a negative charge;Z is either hydrogen or is not present;each n is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; andwherein at least 50% of the surface of the compound of Formula (I) is coated with MnO2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel is in the form of a column. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises two vessels in the form of a first column and a second column, wherein the first column is connected to the second column so that an eluate from the first column enters the second column. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the solid composition of the first column is a particulate, the particulate comprising particles having a size of about 100 to about 200 mesh. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the solid composition of the first column is a particulate, the particulate comprising particles having a size of about 100 to about 200 mesh and the solid composition of the second column is a particulate, the particulate comprising particles having a size of about 200 to about 400 mesh. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet is configured downstream from a radioisotope generation facility. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radioisotope generation facility is a Mo-99 radioisotope generation facility. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet is connected to a collection vessel. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet is connected to a further purification apparatus. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein R is a copolymer. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein R is a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene or derivatives thereof. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein R is a crosslinked polystyrene. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid composition of the vessel is a particulate, the particulate comprising particles of between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm in size. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polyvalent metal species is Mo. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polyvalent metal species is a radioactive isotope. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polyvalent metal species is Mo-99. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein R is chosen from a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene and a crosslinked polysterene and n is equal to 1. 18. A solid composition comprising MnO2 and a compound of Formula (I)wherein:R is a polymer;each Y is independently a hydrogen or a negative charge;Z is either hydrogen or is not present;each n is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; andwherein at least 50% of the surface of the compound of Formula (I) is coated with MnO2. 19. The composition of claim 18, wherein R is a copolymer. 20. The composition of claim 18, wherein R is a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene or derivatives thereof. 21. The composition of claim 18, wherein R is a crosslinked polystyrene. 22. The composition of claim 18, wherein at least 60% of the surface of the compound of Formula (I) is coated with MnO2. 23. The composition of claim 18, wherein at least 75% of the surface of the compound of Formula (I) is coated with MnO2. 24. The composition of claim 18, wherein at least 90% of the surface of the compound of Formula (I) is coated with MnO2. 25. The composition of claim 18, wherein R is chosen from a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene and a crosslinked polystyrene, n is equal to 1, and at least 90% of the surface of the compound of Formula (I) is coated with MnO2; and wherein the composition is a particulate comprising particles of between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm in size.