Abstract
A rapid separation of 137Cs, 90Sr, 144Ce and 95Zr by paper electrophoresis was studied. The filter strips (Toyo filter paper No. 3, 2 × 40 cm) were placed in a background electrolyte. After removal from the solution, they were blotted between sheets of dry paper.
The strips were sandwitched by plastics plate and cooling bath, and screwed tightly. They were allowed to equilibrate for 30 minutes
The sample solution (0.005 ml ) containing 137Cs, 90Sr, 144Ce and 95Zr was spotted at a point 10 cm apart from one end of the filter strip through a hole of plastics plate, and then the hole was covered with cellophane tape.
The most suitable conditions for the separation were investigated in detail, using tartaric acid, citric acid, acetic acid and formic acid.
Separation of trace 137Cs, 90Sr, 144Ce and 95Zr from each others was carried out only in 25 minutes using 0.05M ammonium citrate, pH 3.5, as the electrolyte at 1080 V, and the mixture of those with 0.05M carrier of each was separated in only 20 minutes at 1440 V.
