All-chromatographic method for the recovery of Americium-241 from solutions of complex composition

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry 2020-10, Vol.326 (1), p.627-636
• Main Authors: Kharitonov, O. V., Firsova, L. A., Kozlitin, E. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Americium; Americium 241; Cadmium; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromatography; Citric acid; Composition; Diagnostic Radiology; Eluents; Elution; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Methods; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear energy; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Radioactive pollution; Radioactive wastes; Radiochemistry; Radioisotopes; Rare earth elements; Rare earth metals; Recovery; Separation; Technology application
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07336-w

This paper reported creating the all-chromatographic technique for the recovery of americium radionuclides from solutions of the complex composition generated in the radiochemical industry. The technique was based entirely on the displacement complexing chromatography; neither additional precipitation nor extraction stages were necessary. The technology used the elution with DTPA and NTA-based solutions containing the citric acid additives and the sequential elution with these eluents, emphasizing the separation of americium from the heavy rare earth elements, lead, and cadmium. The complete separation of americium from lead and cadmium was a peculiar exercise; the elution order of lead and cadmium changed in the presence of the citric acid additives. The recovery and separation of americium from actual radioactive waste solutions of different origins demonstrated 96 and 99% chemical purity of the final product.