Separation of Cations from Nitric Acid Solutions Using Commercially Available Ion Exchange Resins

Abstract

In a previous publication, the authors described a chromatographic process for the selective separation of fission products and minor actinides from uranium and plutonium in nitric acid solution. This paper has evaluated commercially available ion exchange materials for capacity, rate of uptake and selectivity for some fission products (inactive) and cerium (iii) and (iv) as surrogate for Pu and U. The fission products studied where Cs, Sr and Zr as these for various reasons present major challenges for the existing PUREX process and waste management. The commercial resins evaluated were various sulfonic acid, chelate ion exchangers and an undisclosed inorganic material all supplied by Purolite Ltd.