A method based on exchange reactions of metals with coordination compounds and termed displacement extraction chromatography is proposed. The method consists essentially in the successive displacement of elements with lower extraction constants, present in the form of coordination compounds in the organic phase on the column, by substoichiometric amounts of elements with higher extraction constants, admitted to the column in aqueous solution. The method was used to determine various contaminations in yttrium, molybdenum, zirconium, niobium and beryllium by activation analysis.