High speed-high efficiency separation of the transplutonium elements by extraction chromatography

Abstract

The separation of various tripositive transplutonium elements by high efficiency extraction chromatographic columns using di(2-ethylhexyl)orthophosphoric acid (HDEHP) as the stationary phase was analyzed in terms of the resolution function. Resolution, R s , for Bk(III)-Cf(III) system was studied as a function of column length and particle size of inert support. R s vs v curves at different temperatures were calculated for Cm(III)/Am(III), Cf(III)/Bk(III), Fm(III)/Es(III) and Md(III)/Fm(III). The data was used to select conditions for high speed seperations of Cm and Cf, Bk and Cf, Bk, Es and Fm, and Es, Fm and Md using high efficiency HDEHP columns. Very high resolution HDEHP columns containing over one thousand plates were also studied. The reproducibility and stability of HDEHP-Celite columns were studied as a function of particle size, liquid loading, temperature and flow velocity.