Radiochemical purification of 144Ce from its in-grown daughter 144Pr and other fission products

Abstract

144 Ce- 144 Pr is one of the radionuclide generators used for demonstration of radioactive equilibrium, an important concept in radioactive decay kinetics for pedagogic activities in nuclear physics and chemistry practicals. This work describes the method of purification of 144 Ce from mixed oxide fuel dissolver solution of FBTR by ion-exchange chromatography using Dowex resin followed by solvent extraction using di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP). The daughter nuclide 144 Pr was purified by extraction chromatographic technique using HDEHP coated XAD-7 resin. The purified 144 Ce was used to demonstrate radioactive equilibrium concept from the growth of its daughter nuclide 144 Pr.