Partial purification of neutron-activation 99Mo from cross-contaminant radionuclides onto potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) column

Potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) matrix was prepared and characterized. Purification of neutron-activation 99Mo-molybdate(VI) solutes from some residual cross-contaminant radionuclides including 134Cs, 86Rb, 124Sb, 60Co and 51Cr was carried out onto small chromatographic columns of the matrix (each of 1.0 g). Gamma-ray spectrometric analysis data showed that the purification process was not affected by either Mo(VI) concentrations (0.13 and 0.02 M Mo) in the feeding solution of 3.5 M NaNO3 at pH 9.5 or flow rates (0.2 and 5.0 mL/min) at room temperature. Molybdenum(VI) average loss onto the column matrix did not exceed 7.7 x 10-2 mmol Mo. Except for 51Cr, the matrix has very high selectivity for 134Cs, 86Rb and 124Sb with ∼50% 60Co elimination. The obtained data were briefly discussed. (author)