Studies on the recovery of Pu(IV) from hydrochloric acid-oxalic acid solutions using an anion exchange method

Sorption of Pu(IV) from hydrochloric acid-oxalic acid solutions has been investigated using different anion exchangers, viz., Dowex-1X4, Amberlite XE-270 (MP) and Amberlyst A-26 (MP) for the recovery of plutonium from plutonium oxalate solutions. Distribution ratios of Pu(IV) for its sorption on these anion exchangers have been determined. The sorption of Pu(IV) from hydrochloric acid solutions decreases drastically in the presence of oxalic acid. However, addition of aluminium chloride enhances the sorption of plutonium in the presence of oxalic acid, indicating the feasibility of recovery of plutonium. Pu(IV) breakthrough capacities have been determined with a 10 ml resin bed of each of these anion exchangers at a flow rate of 60 ml per hour using a solution of Pu(IV) with the composition: 6M HCl+0.05M HNO₃+0.1M H₂C₂O₄+0.5M AlCl₃+100 mg.l^–1 Pu(IV). The 10% Pu(IV) breakthrough capacities for Dowex-1X4, Amberlite XE-270 (MP) and Amberlyst A-26 (MP) are 15.0, 8.9 and 6.2 g of Pu(IV) l^–1 of resin respectively.