Retention profile and chromatographic separation of Y³⁺ from Sr²⁺ by Chelex-100 (cation ion exchanger) physically immobilized with ammonium ion

Y³⁺ retention from aqueous media onto Chelex-100 sorbent impregnated with ammonium nitrate was studied. Y³⁺ uptake was rapid, reached maximum within 40 min and followed pseudo first order equation. Modified Chelex100 sorbent was successfully packed in column for separation of ⁹⁰Y from its parent ⁹⁰Sr. The method was based upon retention of Y³⁺ at pH 1.0 onto sorbent packed column in aqueous diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Y3⁺ species were recovered with HNO₃ and analyzed. The radiochemical and radionuclide purity of ⁹⁰Y in the eluate were ascertained. The method is low cost and provides rapid approach for separation of Y³⁺ from Sr²⁺. (author)