Separation of95Zr and95Nb from each other and from other fission products by adsorption and desorption on silica gel using hydrochloric acid solutions

The silica gel adsorption behaviour of zirconium, niobium, ruthenium and cerium in hydrochloric acid has been investigated by batch and column techniques. A satisfactory radiochemical separation of zirconium and niobium from each other and from other fission products has been achieved by a two column technique. The recommended procedure consists of sorption of all the nuclides on a primary silica gel column. Fifteen per cent of⁹⁵Nb, all of the zirconium and all of the other fission products are eluted first by washing with 5.5 M HCl. A second elution with concentrated hydrochloric acid then recovers the⁹⁵Nb (free from other products). The solution from the first elution after evaporation to 1 ml is then passed through another silica gel column and successively washed with 0.5M HCl, 5.5M HCl and concentrated HCl to obtain three fractions—other fission products—⁹⁵Zr free from other products—⁹⁵Nb free from other products, respectively.     

The use of hydrochloric acid in separating95Zr−95Nb activity from uranium fission products on silica gel

Dissolution of a neutron-irradiated uranium target in a medium of 6N HCl containing a few drops of very dilute HNO₃ yielded a matrix solution which on running on a silica gel column allowed the complete adsorption of the⁹⁵Zr−⁹⁵Nb activity formed in the fission process. The⁹⁵Zr−⁹⁵Nb activity is cleanly and totally eluted with 0.5% oxalic acid solution. None of the uranium or the activity of the other fission products was found to be adsorbed on the column.     

Study of the state of95Zr+95Nb in aqueous solutions

The adsorption on paraffine and polyethylene and the paper chromatography in aqueous solutions in the pH range of 2–12 were used for the study of the behaviour of⁹⁵Zr and⁹⁵Nb. The effect of complexing ions (SO ₄ ^2? and CO ₃ ^2? ) was studied in the same pH range. The constants of hydrolysis and the composition of hydrolytic species of⁹⁵Zr in the solution containing sulphate ions were determined in the pH range of 1–2. The paper chromatography was used for the control of the purity of⁹⁵Zr after an extractive separation from⁹⁵Nb with α-benzoinoxime. The possibility of studying the extraction processes of Zr (without its previous separation from Nb) by reversed phase chromatography is shown. Conditions for the formation of polynuclear compounds of Zr and Nb and their influence on the extraction separation in nitrate media were studied.     

Separation of Zr and Hf from strong hydrochloric acid solution by solvent extraction with TEHA

In order to separate Zr(IV) and Hf(IV) from chloride solutions, TEHA (tri 2-ethyl hexyl amine) was used as an extractant. The aqueous phase consisted of 200 ppm of Zr and Hf in strong HCl solution. In our solvent extraction system, the extractability of the constituents by TEHA was found to be in the following order, HCl > Zr(IV) > Hf(IV). The highest separation factor between the two metals was obtained from 8 M HCl solution. Based on the selectivity towards Zr over Hf with TEHA, McCabe–Thiele plot was constructed and batch simulation of counter-current extraction studies has been conducted. Scrubbing results from the loaded TEHA showed that Hf was selectively scrubbed over Zr by strong HCl solution (9 M). Complete stripping of Zr was possible from the organic phase with distilled water after scrubbing of Hf. The extraction behavior of Zr and Hf by TEHA was compared with that by TiOA and TOA. Our results can be utilized in developing a solvent extraction process to separate Zr and Hf from concentrated chloride solutions by using TEHA.     

The sorption of molybdenum(VI) by ionites from solutions in hydrochloric acid

The sorption of molybdenum(VI) by KU-2 × 8 and AV-17 × 8 ionites from solutions in hydrochloric acid (1 × 10⁻⁵−6 N) was studied. Changes in the sorption of molybdenum(VI) by cationite and anionite were observed. The isoelectric point of molybdenum in solutions in hydrochloric acid was determined from sorption and electrical migration measurements.     

Separation of trace amounts of titanium by the sorption of the titanium peroxocomplex on silica gel

Summary The possibility of the analytical use of the sorption of titanium peroxocomplex on silica gel for the determination of trace amounts of titanium was studied. The exchange capacity of silica gel in dependence on the time and the composition of the titanium peroxocomplex sorbed were described. A simple and very efficient separation procedure has been developed for the determination of traces of titanium in various waters and water-soluble salts.     

Separation of germanium from some elements by adsorption on silica gel

In the search for an efficient method of recovery of germanium from concentrated mineral acid solutions, silica gel has been found to be a selective adsorbent for this element. A method of quantitative separation of gallium from germanium is described which can be applied for the preparation of⁶⁸Ge−⁶⁸Ga isotope generator and for the isolation of⁶⁸Ge from a zinc target. The applicability of the present method was also studied for the separation of a gertarget. The applicability of the present method was also studied for the separation of a germanium matrix in determining admixtures in semiconductor germanium samples by activation analysis.     

Separation of zirconium from fission products in silica gel—nitric acid systems

A method for the separation of zirconium from fission products based on the system 100–200 mesh silica gel—2.0 M nitric acid is described. Decontamination factors are over 500 for ⁹⁵Nb, ¹⁰⁶Ru, ¹²⁴Sb, ¹³⁷Cs, molybdate and uranium(VI), and the yield of zirconium is 98 %.     

Radioactive nuclides in the marine environment--distribution and behaviour of 95Zr, 95Nb originated from fallout

To investigate behaviour of 95Zr, 95Nb in the marine environment, various samples have been collected and measured by means of Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry and/or radiochemical analysis during a period from 1974 to 1982 at coastal area of Tokai-mura, Ibaraki prefecture. Concentration of the nuclides in seaweeds increased remarkably after atmospheric nuclear detonation by P.R. of China, and the activity ratio between the nuclides changed by time was not fit well by the transient decay equation. Concentration variation in sea water was smaller than that in sea weeds, and the minimum change in sea sediment. Increase of concentration in these environmental samples was observed in chronological order of sea water, sea weeds then sediment after detonations, suggesting that the uptake of the nuclides by these sea weeds from sea water is faster than that via root. Observed concentration factors on the nuclides by sea weeds were calculated from the observed concentrations in sea water and sea weeds. Maximum values on 95Zr and 95Nb were 2110, 2150, respectively for Ecklonia cava and Eisenia bicyclis.     

Extraction of uranium from hydrochloric acid solutions by alkylated crown ethers

The extraction recovery of uranium from 1–10 mol/L hydrochloric acid solutions into solutions of alkylated crown ethers di-tert-butyldibenzo-18-crown-6 (DTBDB18C6) and di-tert-butyldicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DTBDCH18C6) in organic solvents (nitrobenzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform, 1-octanol) was studied. It was found that with increasing HCl concentration, the value of the distribution coefficients of uranium (D) between the organic and aqueous phases increased to a maximum value at 9 mol/L HCl for DTBDB18C6 and 6–7 mol/L HCl for DTBDCH18C6. The properties of the solvent also greatly affect the values of D, reaching a maximum in the application of nitrobenzene, dichloroethane, or their mixture. Under these conditions, D for a 0.01 mol/L solution of DTBDCH18C6 in nitrobenzene is 830, which is the highest of known values. It was determined by the slope method and the complete saturation method that the extracted complexes of the studied alkylated crown ethers with uranyl ions have the 2 : 1 composition. Thus, new supramolecular extractants of uranium from hydrochloric acid solutions have been studied, having an extremely high extraction capacity, which can be used in the analytical and preparative chemistry of uranium.     

Rapid extraction of microamounts of protactinium from hydrochloric acid solutions by morin-isoamylol

A new extractant for protactinium has been studied. This paper describes the extraction behaviour of Pa from HCl system by morin-isoamylol. The whole procedure can be completed in 100 sec., yield of extraction is 99.2%.     

Solvent extraction of zirconium from hydrochloric acid solutions by sulphoxides and their mixtures

The solvent extraction of zirconium from HCl solutions by dipentyl sulphoxide (DPSO), dioctyl sulphoxide (DOSO), tributyl phosphate (TBP), and their mixtures in various solvents has been studied. At a given H⁺ strength, the extraction coefficient η of the metal increases with an increase in Cl⁻ activity whereas it is almost independent of H⁺ at constant Cl⁻. Under otherwise identical conditions, η increases with an increase in the extractant concentration but is virtually independent of the metal ion concentration over a wide range. The species extracted are ZrCl₄·DPSO, ZrCl₄·DOSO, and ZrCl₄·2TBP. In the case of mixtures, the slope of the log η−log M extractant plot for one component decreases with an increase in the concentration of the second component, the lines crossing at a common point. Extraction is favoured by solvents of low dielectric constant. It is possible to separate zirconium from thorium and uranium by solvent extraction with sulphoxides.     

Separation of molybdenum (VI) by extraction withn-octylaniline from hydrochloric acid medium

n-Octylaniline in bezene was used for the extractive separation of molybdenum (VI) from hydrochloric acid medium. Molybdenum(VI) was extracted quantitatively from 10 ml aqueous solution 1.5M in hydrochloric acid and 10M in lithium chloride into 10 ml of 10%n-octylaninline in benzene. It was stripped from the organic phase with 5% aqueous ammonia solution and estimated spectrophotometrically with thiocyanate at 465 nm. The interference of various ions has been studied in detail and conditions have been established for the determination of molybdenum(VI) in synthetic mixtures and alloy samples.