Reillex (TM)-HPQ anion exchange column chromatography: Removal of pertechnetate from DSSF-5 simulant at various flow rates

The 1% breakthrough volumes (BTV) for TcO4- on Reillex(TM)-HPQ anion exchan ge resin columns have been measured as a function of flow rate. The 1% BTV is defined as that point in the column loading when an aliquot of eluent co ntains 1% of the activity of an equivalent aliquot of column feed solution. The 2.54 x 50 cm resin columns were loaded with a DSSF-5 simulant containi ng 5.0 x 10(-5) M (TcO4-)-Tc-99 and (TcO4-)-Tc-95m tracer. Seven flow rate experiments were performed with flow rates varying from 15 to 65 mL/min. Th e 1% BTV, measured in resin bed volumes (BV) can be related to flow rate (m L/min) by the following equation. 1% BTV = (67.85 +/- 3.76) - (0,6019 +/- 0.0815)(flow rate) The columns were up-flow eluted with a 1.0 M NaOH/1.0 M ethylenediamine/ 0. 0050 M SnCl2 solution. For six flow experiments, the average technetium elu ted was (97.1 +/- 6.0) percent and the average technetium accountability fo r loading and eluting was (97.8 +/- 5.9) percent. Loading experiments to 90 % breakthrough were performed at a flow rate of 60 mL/min for Reillex(TM)-H PQ and AG(R)MP-1 columns. The Reillex(TM)-HPQ displayed better column loadi ng performance as indicated by smaller percent breakthrough volumes. Howeve r, in this experiment, the AG(R)MP-1 gave 100% elution, whereas the Reillex (TM)-HPQ gave only 70% elution.