Analytical Procedure for the Separation of Small Amounts of Uranium from Large Amounts of Plutonium Using Extraction Chromatography

摘要

A procedure for the separation of small amounts of uranium from large amounts of plutonium is described in a style used in Analytical Manuals. Uranium(VI) is separated from plutonium in an extraction chromatographic column using purified tributyl phosphate (TBP) supported on polytrifluoromonochloroethylene (Kel-F) particles as the stationary phase and a 0.02 M solution of ferrous sulfamate in 2.5 to 3 M nitric acid as mobile phase. After complete removal of plutonium in its TBP-inextractable trivalent oxidation state, the uranium is eluted with water. Uranium is recovered in a yield exceeding 98%. (Atomindex citation 12:637270)