Isotopic Exchange Chromatographic Separation applied to an Equilibrium Strontium-90 and Yttrium-90 Mixture

Abstract

ANALYTICAL techniques based on precipitation, volatility, electrolysis, ion exchange, solvent extraction, chromatography, etc., with or without carrier, have been used to separate individual radionuclides and to separate groups of radionuclides. Less attention has been paid to radio-chemical separation or determination involving isotopic or displacement exchange reactions. The amalgam exchange procedures^1–6 introduced by Meinke and collaborators appear to be unique and will find wider use in radiochemical separations. Isotopic exchange has also been applied to the separation of radiosilver⁷ and of iodine-131 (ref. 8) by Sunderman and Meinke, and adaptation of isotopic exchange to the determination of mercury in a solvent extraction system has been worked out by Handley⁹. A displacement method for the separation of radio-iodide on a column of silver chloride granules has been reported by Arnott and Wells-Cole¹⁰. Americium has been separated from curium and other trivalent actinides and lanthanides with a column of calcium fluoride¹¹, and this column has also been used for the removal of radioactive actinides and lanthanides from aqueous solutions¹².