Mutual separation of trivalent americium and curium using the BCPDTPA/XAD-7 composite sorbent with pure nitric acid solution

In this work, a simple and efficient procedure for the mutual separation of trivalent americium and curium (Am(III) and Cm(III)) has been provided by extraction chromatography with the novel developed XAD-7-based BCPDTPA composite sorbent in nitric acid solution. The batch experiments and column separation studies were systematically performed. The influences of nitric acid concentration and temperature on the weight distribution coefficients and separation factors for Am(III) and Cm(III) were determined in the batch experiments. Based on the data in the batch studies, the column experiments were designed and conducted. A satisfactory separation of Am(III) and Cm(III) was accomplished in a 1.4 mL column (φ5 × 70 mm) with 0.10 mol  L−1 nitric acid solution. It is noted that the partitioning process can work with single nitric acid solution without any additives.