Chromatographic separation of zirconium isotopes

This patent describes a continuous chromatographic process for the simultaneous separation of each of the isotopes of zirconium in a sample containing a mixture of zirconium isotopes to produce substantially pure fractions of each of the separated isotopes. It comprises: loading a substantially vertical chromatographic separation column having an effective column height sufficient to resolve each the zirconium isotope into a distinct product fraction having a purity greater than 90% with a cation exchange resin having a strong affinity for zirconium cations; the resin having a solid to liquid distribution coefficient in excess of about 100 in acid solutions of less than about 0.3 normal; preparing an aqueous feed solution of ionic zirconium from the sample having a pH of between about 3 and 4 and a solubility limit of about 90 g/l; and preparing an eluant capable of displacing zirconium ions from the exchange resin, wherein the eluant is an aqueous solution of a strong mineral acid having a normality greater than one