POTENTIAL FOR DECONTAMINATION OF PLUTONIUM-CONTAINING SOLUTIONS USINGTRANSFERRIN METALLOPROTEIN AFFINITY METAL CHROMATOGRAPHY

Transferrin Metalloprotein Affinity Metal Chromatography (MAMC), which previously has been shown to be effective for the removal and concent ration of transition metal ions, has been extended to the binding of l anthanide and actinide ions. Using solutions of trivalent lanthanide i ons of appropriate ionic radii and of thorium(IV) ions as models, tran sferrin MAMC has been shown to possess appreciable potential for the d econtamination of plutonium(Iv)-bearing solutions. Efforts to separate trivalent lanthanide ions using monoferric transferrin MAMC are descr ibed.