Chromatographic separation of strontium and cesium with mixed zeolite column

Chromatographic separation of heat-generating nuclides and 90Sr and 137C from high-level liquid wastes has been studied by means of column packed with inorganic ion-exchangers. The distribution coefficients (K d) of Sr2+ and Cs+ onto zeolites decreased with increasing concentrations of monovalent cations. The retention volumes (V R) with a 2M (=mol/dm3) NH4Cl solution decreased in the order, natural mordenite (NM)≫ chabazite>clinoptilolite for Cs+, and titanic acid≫zeolite Y for Sr2+. The column containing mixtures of Y and NM was effective for selective adsorption of Sr2+ and Cs+ from a simulated waste solution, and chromatographic separation of these adsorbed nuclides was accomplished by passing a 2M NH4CL solution through the column of mixing ratio of Y: NM=3:2.