Separation of 248Cm (III) from 252Cf (III) and its use in time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic (TRFS) studies

The present report gives a description of the methodology for the separation of 248Cm(III) from decayed 252Cf (III) waste solution. The waste solution was first assayed for 252Cf content by neutron counting using a neutron well coincidence counter. The sample was subjected to the chemical separation of 248Cm (III) from 252Cf (III) following anion and cation exchange chromatography. The alpha spectrum of the separated curium fraction showed peaks due to 246Cm and 248Cm while the corresponding alpha spectrum of californium fraction showed 249,250,251,252Cf. The gamma ray abundances of 249Cf were determined with respect to its gamma rays of 387 keV and the data agreed well with that in literature. Separated Cm(III) was further characterized by recording its time resolved fluorescence spectrum (TRFS) in aqueous medium. (author)