Separation of actinides by means of HPLC

A procedure is described separating, identifying and determining the actinides (An) U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm in the presence of the lanthanides (Ln) La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu and Ho on an analytical scale. It is based on high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with a dual on-line detection system and is accomplished within a short time, in one step and under isocratic conditions (for An). The separation was carried out on a strongly acidic and highly capacitive cationic exchange resin on a polystyrene divinylbenzene copolymer (Aminex A9, co. BioRad) basis. Radionuclides emitting α- and β-particles are detected on-line using a custom-made solid scintillation flow-through cell. Inactive components are monitored by colour reagent complex detection (Arsenazo III, λ-648 nm) with a VIS detector placed in series.