Abstract
An 8-quinolinol-extraction method has been applied to separate 95Zr-95Nb or 95Nb from fission product mixtures and/or irradiated uranium. Radiochemically pure nuclides can be separated simply and rapidly from either origin. In the separation of 95Zr-95Nb, the extraction is made from a solution of pH 4.5 to 5.5, containing acetate as masking agent. 95Nb is extracted from a solution of pH 4.8 to 5.2, containing fluoride as masking agent, in the presence of uranium. 95Nb can be separated from 95Zr and other fission products by extraction from a solution of pH 5.3 to 8, containing EDTA as masking agent. In these cases, after the first extraction, the chloroform solution should be washed with water to remove any remaining extraneous uranium or fission products. The addition of a small quantity of sulfite is required to prevent the extraction of 108Ru.
The method can be also used for the separation of the short-lived nuclides, 97Zr-97Nb or 97Nb, from irradiated uranium.
