Adsorption of tracer cations,and the separation of carrier-free95Nb from95Zr,XU1 from U and45Ca from46Sc on titanium phosphate column

Titanium phosphate as ion exchanger for column operation has been prepared by mixing TiCl₄ and H₃PO₄ in suitable proportion. The ratio of titanium: phosphate was obtained to be 1:2.02. The uptake of Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Ag⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Sc³⁺, Co³⁺, Y³⁺, Tb³⁺, Zr⁴⁺ and Th⁴⁺ cations at very small concentrations has been studied on this exchanger. The data indicated that the different cations are adsorbed in the exchanger by different mechanisms. Radiochemical separations of carrier free⁹⁵Nb from⁹⁵Zr, UX₁ from U and⁴⁵Ca from⁴⁶Sc have been achieved by adopting very simple chemical procedures through a column of titanium phosphate. The -spectrum of the separated⁹⁵Nb, UX₁ and⁴⁶Sc showed that the products are of high radionuclidic purity. The individual separation procedures took less than 20 min and the yields are quantitative.