CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION METHOD OF ZIRCONIUM ISOTOPE USING ANHYDROUS LIQUATION AGENT WHICH CAN BE EASILY RECYCLED

摘要

PURPOSE: To reduce a cross-sectional area of thermal neutrons of zirconium by raising the concentration of low cross section isotopes and lowering the concentration of high cross section isotopes. CONSTITUTION: An essentially anhydrous alcoholic solution of ionic compound of zirconium having the distribution of high cross section isotopes above a necessary level is treated in a continuous steady state chromatograph (a continuous annular chromatograph) 10, using a cationic exchange resin (exchange resin beads) 27 with pentavalent phosphorus derived active group as a stationary phase to recover at least two product fractions, or a fraction of a high zirconium 90 content and a fraction of a high zirconium 94 content, and by combining the both fractions, zirconium having a lower cross section than a starting zirconium is produced.