Isolation of Uranium by Anionic Exchange Resins

Abstract

A separation methodology to isolate natural uranium from its radioactive daughters: Th, Ra, Bi, Pb, Pa and Po, was developed using an only one anion exchange resin and varying concentrations of HCl solutions. Three types of anion exchange resins were tested and the separation process was followed by gamma and alpha spectrometry. Uranium can be quantitatively isolated from its descendants using Dowex 1X8 (20-50 mesh) or Amerlite IRA (100 mesh) resins in three steps: using 4 and 8 mol/L −1 HCl and water to recover uranium. The method is easy, quick, and inexpensive.