Effect of zeolite particle size in separation of cesium from U₃Si₂/Al neutron post irradiation using cation exchange method

The separation of cesium from post irradiation U₃Si₂ /Al nuclear fuel plate using cation exchange method with various zeolite particle sizes has been done. Cesium separation technique by absorption and cation exchanger methods using Lampung's zeolite gives great efficiency. Cesium separation from other fission products of ²³⁵U, ⁸⁹Kr, ¹⁴⁴Ba, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹⁴⁴Xe, ⁹⁶Rb must be done because the ¹³⁷Cs isotope was used as a burn-up monitor. In this experiment, the aspect of particle size effect on cesium separation efficiency at contact time and at the optimum amount of zeolite was studied. Around 150 μL of U₃Si₂ /Al post irradiation plate with density of 2.96 gU/cm³ was diluted into 0.1 N of HCl to produce 2 mL mixed solution. Separation of cesium from sample solution was assayed using a Lampung zeolite with varied particle size in the range of -100+170 mesh, -170+270 mesh, -270+400 mesh and -400 mesh. The result showed that 1 gram of zeolite of having particle size in the range of -270+400 mesh which was stirred for 1 hour was able to produce 0.0541 μg of ¹³⁷Cs in 150 μL isotope solution and its recovery as big as 99.1 %. (author)