Ceric tungstate as sorbent for polyvalent tracer cations and as an ion exchanger for separation of carrier-free95Nb from95Zr and113mIn from113Sn

The uptake of a few polyvalent ions Ca²⁺ Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, UO²⁺, Cr³⁺, Y³⁺, Ce³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺, Lu³⁺, Zr⁴⁺, Hf⁴⁺, Sn⁴⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Se⁶⁺, Mo⁶⁺ and W⁶⁺ at very small concentrations has been studied over ceric tungstate exchanger. A good column variety of the material was prepared by mixing ceric sulphate in 2N H₂SO₄ and aqueous solution of sodium tungstate in suitable proportion. The ratio of cerium: tungstate was obtained to be 11. Separation of carrier-free⁹⁵Nb from⁹⁵Zr and^113mIn from¹¹³Sn have been carried out by applying a very simple chemical procedure over the column of ceric tungstate. The -spectrum of separated⁹⁵Nb and^113mIn products were found to be of high radionuclidic purity. The separation procedure took less than 15 min and the yields were close to 100%.