Americium separations from high salt solutions Page: 2 of 7
This report is part of the collection entitled: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
10x1
.
w '
*f t
en of wash:
0
end of feed
0
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
column volumes of solution ( -100 mL per column volume)22
Figure 5. Alpha activity elution profile for EV2' through HPQ-100.
After the first six column volumes (600 mL), distinct gamma activity was detected in the
effluent. After 14 volumes (1400 mL), the gamma activity of the effluent was nearly as high as for
the original solution, so we switched to wash and elution mode. By the end of feed input, 13% of
the total alpha was eluted, 87% retained on the column. By the end of the "wash" solution, an
additional 17% of the activity was eluted, resulting in retention of ca. 70% of the total alpha
activity. The bulk of this was removed in three column volumes (300 mL) of elutent solution.
Clearly, the composition of a wash solution needs to be refined. Americium retention by the
simple salt solutions is inadequate. According to total alpha analysis, we may have stopped feed
input before complete americium breakthrough. However, since about 35% of the alpha activity of
the feed is calculated to be from Pu-239 and plutonium is expected to be nearly quantitatively
retained, total alpha activity may not be as reliable of an indicator as the crude gamma activity
determination used.
This sorption/elution profile is not as good as the batch contact equilibrium sorption data would
suggest in that americium elution is observed after just 5-6 column volumes of solution. The
"operational capacity" of HPQ resins is approximately 80 mg Pu per L (bed volume) of resin. At
1.4 L of EV2' feed, approximately 4.2 g of Pu (and 0.2 g) of Am are loaded onto the resin. Under
these conditions, approximately 35% of the resin sites are occupied by Pu, leaving 65% of the sites
for Am. Thus, dynamic americium displacement may account for the relatively early breakthrough.16
9-
8-
6 -
4-
2--o
c0I- total alpha activity (dpm/mL)
- feed activity (dpm/mL)
-- relative gamma activity (qualitat
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Barr, Mary E.; Jarvinen, Gordon D.; Schulte, Louis D.; Stark, Peter C.; Chamberlin, Rebecca M.; Abney, Kent D. et al. Americium separations from high salt solutions, report, March 1, 2000; Los Alamos, New Mexico. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc711537/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.