[en] In radioactive laboratories, different types of analytical wastes containing plutonium are generated. During prolonged storage of plutonium, americium is generated by the beta decay of ²⁴¹Pu. Separation of plutonium and americium is essential for recycling of plutonium. A new extractant, α-hydroxy acetamide, synthesized in our division was impregnated in silica gel using acetone medium. Column experiments were carried out for the sorption of Pu (IV) and Am (III) from 3M nitric acid on a bed of silica gel impregnated with 20% α-hydroxy acetamide extractant. A feed containing 250 mg/L Pu (IV), 1 mg/L Am(III) in 3M HNO₃ was loaded on a 0.5mL bed of 20% α-hydroxy acetamide on silica gel at a flow rate of 1 bV/10 minutes. The % of plutonium and americium in the loading effluent is negligible as given is (0-20 bv). The column was washed using 3M nitric acid. The loading and washing effluents contained < 0.23% plutonium and americium. Americium was eluted using 0.1M HNO₃ (21-34 bv) and subsequently Pu (IV) was eluted using 0.5 M oxalic acid (35-46 bv). The eluted plutonium remained in 0.5 M oxalic acid medium without precipitation because in the absence of any strong acid, oxalic acid is ionized resulting in high concentration of free oxalate ions (C₂O₄^2-) and Pu₄₊ forms soluble anionic complexes in this medium