EFFECT OF MIXED-SOLVENT MEDIA ON THE SORPTION AND SEPARATION OF URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM ON MACROPOROUS RESINS

Ion-exchange studies on uranium and plutonium using macroporous (MP) a nion-exchange resins from an aqueous-organic solvent mixed media were carried out to develop a separation method. Out of the several water m iscible organic solvents tried methanol and acetone were found to be b est suited. Distribution data were obtained for U(VI) and Pu(IV) using three macroporous resins under various parameters. Based on these dat a, separation factors for Pu/U were calculated. Column experiments usi ng Tulsion A-27(MP) were also carried out. The method has the advantag e of loading plutonium from as low as 1M nitric acid in the presence o f methanol or acetone and could be used satisfactorily for its recover y from solutions containing plutonium and uranium.