Ion exchange in organic solvents

Studies on the partitioning of plutonium from 30% TBP by ion-exchange absorption on macroporous cation exchanger Amberlyst-15 have been described. Detailed loading experiments indicate that the resin absorbs plutonium in preference to uranium from loaded organic phase at low organic phase acidities (around 0.2M). Absorption behaviour of some fission products on the resin in 30% TBP is also reported. Possibility of using this procedure as an alternate method for plutonium partitioning from IAP stream of Purex process has been discussed.