Ion-exchange experiments of Nb and Ta in HF/HNO solution for identification of fluoride species of Db

Toyoshima, Atsushi; Mitsukai, Akina; Murakami, Masashi*  ; Sato, Daisuke*; Motoyama, Risa*; Oe, Kazuhiro*; Komori, Yukiko*; Haba, Hiromitsu*; Asai, Masato  ; Tsukada, Kazuaki  ; Sato, Tetsuya   ; Kaneya, Yusuke; Nagame, Yuichiro 

The purpose of the present study is characterization of fluoride complexes of Db. In this study, we investigated anion-exchange behavior of Nb and Ta, lighter homologs of Db, in 1.0-24 M HF/2.0 M HNO solutions as a model experiment of Db. Nb and Ta produced at JAEA tandem accelerator and RIKEN AVF cyclotron, respectively, were prepared as non-carrier-added radiotracers by an ion exchange method. Batch experiments were performed with anion-exchange resin. As a result, distribution coefficients () of Nb showed a sharp increase at 6 M HF while those of Ta had a monotonic decrease as increasing HF concentration. This suggests that Nb forms fluoride complexes from oxy fluoride one at 6 M HF and Ta exists as fluoride complexes under the conditions. It is expected that chemical species of Db fluorides are characterized in its anion-exchange experiments under the present conditions.