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Title: PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM FROM NEUTRON IRRADIATED URANIUM

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4116743

Tracer amounts of plutonium may be separated from an acid solution of neutron-irradiated uranium by flowing the solution through a bed of a phospho- silicate complex of Zr, Ti, Hf, or Th; the fission products that may have been adsorbed may be eluted first and then the adsorbed plutonium eluted with 7 M KNO/ sub 3/. The solution for treatment should be prepared by dissolving the irradiated uranium in HNO/sub 3/, removing as much as possible of the uranium with a suitable method, and reducing the plutonium. The complex may be prepared by acidifying a solution of a compound of Zr, Ti, Hf, or Th, a phosphate, and a silicate. The complex of Zr is best for adsorption of plutonium, although where H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ is used, the complex should be of Ti which is resistant to H/ sub 2/SO/sub 4, Procedures are given for preparing Zr and/ Ti complexes and a mixture of these two. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-15-002716
OSTI ID:
4116743
Report Number(s):
GB 852501
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English