OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effectiveness of the B-cell high density microparticles (BCell-HDM) device in purging B-cells from peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) harvested from patients with relapsed low or intermediate grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. II. Determine the recovery of T-cells and CD34+ cells in BCell-HDM processed PBSC in these patients. III. Compare hematopoietic engraftment following infusion of autologous PBSC purged using the BCell-HDM device versus unpurged autologous PBSC in these patients receiving high dose chemotherapy. IV. Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients. V. Determine the occurrence of adverse effects from this regimen in these patients.