Use of zirconium phosphate as ion exchanger in some parent-daughter radioisotope separations

Zirconium phosphate as ion exchanger suitable for column operation has been prepared by mixing hot metaphosphoric acid solution with a solution of zirconium oxychloride when the white insoluble phosphate separated out which was dried and purified. The ratio of zirconium: phosphate was found to be 1:2. Separation of parent-daughter systems like sup(115)Cd-sup(115m)In, 144Ce-144Pr and 210Pb-210Bi were carried out with this exchanger. γ-ray spectrum of the separated sup(115m)In and the β-decay curve of 144Pr and 210Bi showed that all the daughter activities are radiochemically pure. The separation process in each case takes less than half an hour and the yield is quantitative. (author)