New applications of column reversed-phase partition chromatography with Microthene-710 supporting some selective extractants

Abstract

For the rapid determination of plutonium in urine, the sample is boiled with nitric acid and the solution stirred for 30 minutes with Microthene-710 supporting a 0·3 M solution of trioctylphosphine oxide in cyclohexane. The slurry obtained is transferred to a chromatographic column, which is washed with water, and plutonium(III) is eluted with 6 M hydrochloric acid-0·1 M hydriodic acid. Decontamination factors for other alpha-emitters are >10³ for radium, about 10³ for curium and americium, 2 × 10² for uranium, 50 for protactinium, 30 for thorium and 15 for neptunium.

For the isolation and determination of iron-55 in fallout and air-filter samples, a column of Microthene-710 supporting di(2-ethylhexyl)orthophosphoric acid was used after removal of uranium, thorium and plutonium as anionic nitrate complexes by anion exchange.

For the selective retention of boric acid, a study was carried out to find a suitable compound to be supported on Microthene-710. Six different high molecular weight 1,3-diols were tested for the liquid-liquid extraction of boric acid, the highest retention being given by 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-1,3-diol (TMPD). The test solution at pH 0 to 2 is passed through the TMPD column and, after washing with 0·1 M hydrochloric acid, boric acid is eluted with 0·1 M sodium hydroxide solution. The boric acid thus isolated can be determined colorimetrically by using carminic acid. Many common cations and anions did not interfere. Interference by hydrogen fluoride can be overcome by complexing the fluoride ions with zirconium(IV).