The methods of separation and recovery of rare earth elements in monazite sand have been studied by the ion exchange chromatography. Both of cation and anion exchange resin were used as ion exchange resins and the solutions of EDTA, DTPA, IMDA and Ln-EDTA were used as eluents. The H+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Cu2+, and NH4+ forms of cation exchange resin were used as retaining ions. Ln-EDTA solution was loaded on the EDTA form of anion exchange resin and separated. The Ln-EDTA solution was also used as an eluent for a selective separation of one element from the rare earth mixture solution. The size effects of resin column, the elution mechanism for the various elution types and the separation of a large amount of rare earths were studied.