Role of stannic phosphate in the uptake of cations. Separation of zirconium from thorium and cadmium from indium at tracer concentrations

The uptake of Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Ag⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Sr²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Sc³⁺, Co³⁺, Y³⁺, Sb³⁺, Tb³⁺, Zr⁴⁺ and Th⁴⁺ cations at very small concentrations has been studied over a column of stannic phosphate. The exchanger was prepared by mixing H₃PO₄, NaCl and SnCl₄ in suitable proportions and the ratio of PSn, in the product was obtained to be 1.96. Radiochemical separations of carrier free⁹⁵Zr from²³⁴Th and^115mIn, from¹¹⁵Cd have been carried out by adopting a simple chemical procedure over a column of stannic phosphate. The -spectrum analysis showed that the separated products are of high radionuclidic purity. The separation procedures took less than half an hour with quantitative yield.