Gram-Scale Separation of Curium from Americium Using alpha-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid in High-Pressure Cation Columns

摘要

Quantities of heavy element (americium and curium) up to 2.3 g have been successfully separated by chromatographic elution from cation resin using alpha-hydroxyisobutyrate in equipment originally designed for decigram-scale separations of exp 252 Cf and heavier elements. The high-pressure ion exchange process was reliable and relatively easy to operate. Overall curium recoveries of 80 to 90% were readily achieved with decontamination from americium by factors of 400 to 500. The product and waste streams are both in forms readily coupled to further processing steps. (ERA citation 10:010177)