Rapid separation of zirconium using microvolume anion-exchange cartridge for Zr determination with isotope dilution ICP-MS

Asai, Shiho; Hanzawa, Yukiko  ; Konda, Miki; Suzuki, Daisuke   ; Magara, Masaaki  ; Kimura, Takaumi ; Ishihara, Ryo*; Saito, Kyoichi*; Yamada, Shinsuke*; Hirota, Hideyuki*

Estimating the risks associated with radiation from long-lived fission products (LLFP) in radioactive waste is essential to ensure the long-term safety of potential disposal sites. In this study, the amount of Zr, a LLFP, was determined by ICP-MS after separating Zr from a spent nuclear fuel solution using a microvolume anion-exchange cartridge (TEDA cartridge). The TEDA cartridge achieved highly selective separation of Zr regardless of its small bed volume of 0.08 cm. The time taken to complete the Zr separation was 1.2 min with a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, which was 10 times faster than that for a conventional anion-exchange resin column. Almost all the other elements were removed, leading to accurate measurement of Zr. The result connects experimental value to theoretical prediction provided by ORIGEN2, which requires verification. With the measured value, we demonstrated that the theoretical value is reliable enough to estimate radiation risks.