Radiochemical purification of ¹⁴⁴Ce from its in-grown daughter ¹⁴⁴Pr and other fission products

Abstract

¹⁴⁴Ce-¹⁴⁴Pr is one of the radionuclide generators used for demonstration of radioactive equilibrium, an important concept in radioactive decay kinetics for pedagogic activities in nuclear physics and chemistry practicals. This work describes the method of purification of ¹⁴⁴Ce from mixed oxide fuel dissolver solution of FBTR by ionexchange chromatography using Dowex resin followed by solvent extraction using di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP). The daughter nuclide ¹⁴⁴Pr was purified by extraction chromatographic technique using HDEHP coated XAD-7 resin. The purified ¹⁴⁴Ce was used to demonstrate radioactive equilibrium concept from the growth of its daughter nuclide ¹⁴⁴Pr.