Rapid separation method for protactinium from uranium using manganese oxide filter cake

Adsorption and separation performance of protactinium (Pa) on a manganese oxide (MnO₂) filter cake was studied by measurements of α-, β-, and γ-rays and the results compared with those of solid-phase extraction using MnO₂ and TK400 resins. The MnO₂ filter cake method demonstrated excellent recovery. Radiochemical purity was comparable with that achieved by other newly developed methods, with only small amounts of contamination by Bi, Ra, Ac, Th, and U. The method, originally developed for recovering Pa from uranium solutions, has the merit of rapidity in chemical separation. It may be able to be applied to other purposes, such as investigation of the chemical properties of dubnium, a superheavy element. (author)