Separation of Carrier-Free 90Y from High Level Waste by Extraction Chromatographic Technique Using 2-Ethylhexyl-2-ethylhexyl Phosphonic Acid (KSM-17)

Abstract

An extraction chromatographic technique has been developed for the separation of carrier-free 90Y from the 90Sr present in the high level waste (HLW) of the Purex process. When a Purex HLW solution in 2–3 M HNO3 is passed through a CMPO-Chromosorb-102 (CAC) column, all the trivalent, tetravalent, and hexavalent ions are sorbed. The effluent from this experiment, after adjusting the pH to 2 with NaOH, was passed through a 2-ethylhexyl-2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid (KSM-17)-Chromosorb-102 (KSMC) extraction chromatographic column where only 90Y was sorbed. All the other ions (90Sr, 137Cs, 125Sb, 106Ru, 106Rh, etc.) were washed off with dilute HNO3 (pH 2), and carrier-free 90Y was eluted with 0.5 M HNO3. This technique can yield 90Y in mCi levels in pure form for medical applications. The 90Sr can be used repeatedly after allowing for 90Y buildup.