DEVELOPMENT OF A FAST AND EFFICIENT SEPARATION FOR SHORT-LIVED PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES PRODUCED IN ACCELERATOR-BASED IRRADIATIONS

A novel, fast and simple separation procedure is presented for separation of plutonium from lighter actinides and fission products. Classical methods, such as TTA-extraction and anion exchange resin techniques, were examined but failed to provide sufficient separation from lighter actinides. A successful procedure based on solid phase extraction chromatography was developed. Plutonium was effectively separated from interfering activities within 8 minutes using TEVAresin®, a quaternary amine-based liquid anion exchanger sorbed on an inert support. Recoveries of about 70% were achieved for plutonium with decontamination factors of 10^5 to 10^6 from neptunium, uranium and thorium.