237Np separation from environmental matrices by extraction chromatography method

• DOI: 10.1007/s10582-006-0555-y
• Publication Date: 2007-01-24T07:59:09Z
• Authors: M. Reich; P. Rajec; M. Güllova
• Keywords: Nitric acid; Separation (statistics); Aliquat 336

Aliquat-336 anchored on hydrophobized silica gel was used for effective separation of 237Np from soil matrices and from model solutions. Alpha spectrometry for 237Np determination was used. The interfering radionuclides present in environmental samples such as 234U, 232Th, 231Pa and 239+240Pu were removed by separation with nitric acid solutions containing formic acid and ferrous sulfamate as reducing agents. Spiking samples with 238,234U, 232Th and 238Pu were used to check separation effectiveness. A separation yield of 237Np from soil matrices was checked by measuring of added known amount activity and was found to be about 15%. The yield of separation for model solutions was about 56%. Different parameters of eluant on recovery of 237Np from column were studied.