Rapid separation of alpha-emitting nuclides in radioactive waste

Hoshi, Akiko ; Watanabe, Koichi; Fujiwara, Asako ; Haraga, Tomoko   ; Kameo, Yutaka ; Nakashima, Mikio; Takebe, Shinichi

The simple and rapid separation method was developed for actinides in the low-level radioactive waste. Extraction chromatographic columns were used for the separation of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm in the solution of the simulated solidified product and the simulated waste solution. In the investigation of separation procedure, it was tried to construct the scheme with the relatively non-corrosive reagents aiming to apply to the routine analysis of the radioactive waste. Recoveries and decontamination factors of actinides in the solution of simulated waste were high enough to determine of actinides in radioactive waste by alpha-spectrometry, mass spectroscopy. The time required of the separation operation was 2-3 hours. The chromatographic method was applied to analysis of actinide in actual waste solution, high recoveries and decontamination factors were obtained, which indicated that the extraction chromatographic separation method would be adopted as a simple and rapid separation method of actinide in waste.