Challenges to develop single-column MA(III) separation from HLLW using R-BTP type adsorbents

In order to directly separate trivalent minor actinides(MA:Am,Cm) from fission products(FP) containing rare earths(RE) in high level radioactive liquid waste(HLLW),the authors have challenged to develop a simplified MA separation process by extraction chromatography using a single column.Attention has been paid to a new type of nitrogen-donor ligands,R-BTP(2,6-bis(5,6-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl) pyridine,R:alkyl group) as an extractant because it shows high extraction selectivity for Am(Ⅲ) over RE(Ⅲ).It is known that the R-BTP ligands show different properties such as adsorbability and stability by having different alkyl groups.Therefore,some novel adsorbents were prepared by impregnating different types of R-BTP ligands(isohexyl-,isoheptyl-and cyheptyl-BTP) and a similar ligand to the R-BTP,ATP(2,6-bis(1-aryl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridines),into the porous silica/polymer support(SiO2-P particles).This work deals with comparison in adsorption and desorption properties of Am and some FP in HNO 3 solution onto such R-BTP type adsorbents,as well as chemical and radiolytic stability of the adsorbents.Then the possibility of a single-column separation of MA from main FP was pursued by evaluating the results of column experiments using the most promising adsorbent(isohexyl-BTP/SiO2-P) under temperature control.In addition,elution behaviors of U and Pd were also estimated.     

An effective method based on medium‐pressure liquid chromatography and recycling high‐speed counter‐current chromatography for enrichment and separation of three minor components with similar polarity from Dracocephalum tanguticum

The separation of minor compounds, especially those with similar polarities from a complex sample, remains challenging. In the proposed study, an effective method based on medium‐pressure liquid chromatography and recycling high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was developed for the enrichment and separation of three minor components from Dracocephalum tanguticum. The crude extract was directly introduced to medium‐pressure liquid chromatography for the enrichment of the three minor components. Based on high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis, the total content of these three compounds increased from 0.48% in the crude extract to 85.3% in the medium‐pressure liquid chromatography fraction. In addition, high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was employed to separate the enriched compounds using the solvent system hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1.18:8.82:1.18:8.82, v/v/v/v). As a result, compound 3 and a mixture of compounds 1 and 2 were obtained. In order to improve the resolution of compounds 1 and 2 while saving separation time, a recycling and heart‐cut mode was used. Finally, compounds 1 and 2 were obtained after five cycles. These compounds were identified as 3‐phenylethyl β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), tazettoside E ( 2 ), and cirsiliol‐4′‐glucoside ( 3 ). Compounds 1 and 2 were primarily separated from D. tanguticum. Moreover, the developed method provided a reference for the separation of minor components from the complex sample.