Separation and preconcentration of actinides by extraction chromatography using a supported liquid anion exchanger: application to the characterization of high-level nuclear waste solutions

A novel extraction chromatographic resin comprised of a quaternary amine-based liquid anion exchanger sorbed on an inert polymeric substrate for the sorption of actinides from nitric and hydrochloric acids is described. The resin is shown to exhibit preferential retention of tetravalent actinides over a wide range of acidities. The application of this material to the separation and preconcentration of selected actinides from high level nuclear waste solutions for subsequent determination is described.