Rapid Separation of Alpha-Emitting Nuclides in Radioactive Waste

Abstract

A simple and rapid separation method was developed for actinides in low-level radioactive waste. Extraction chromatography columns were used for the separation of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm in the simulated solidiˆed product and simulated waste solutions. In the investigation of the separation procedure, we tried to construct a scheme using relatively noncorrosive reagents, aiming to apply it to the routine analysis of radioactive waste. The recoveries and decontamination factors of actinides in the solution of simulated waste were high enough to determine the actinides in the radioactive waste by alpha-spectrometry, mass spectroscopy. The time required for the separation was 2 3 hours. The chromatography method was applied to the analysis of actinide in an actual waste solution; high recoveries and decontamination factors were obtained, which indicated that the extraction chromatographic separation method could be adopted for the simple and rapid separation of actinide from waste.