Evaluation of anion exchange resins for plutonium-uranium separations in nitric acid

Pellicular, macroreticular and microreticular (gel-type) anion exchange resins were compared for the separation of plutonium from nitric acid solutions of mixed plutonium-uranium. AS Pellionex SAX (pellicular resin) and Amberlite IRA-93 (weak base macroreticular anion exchange resin) were found to have better uranium washing and plutonium eluting characteristics than any of the resins tested. However, the capacity of the pellicular resin was much lower than the other resins.