Abstract:
In order to improve the accuracy of the fission yields of
156Eu and
161Tb in neutron-induced uranium fission, radiochemical purity sample of
156Eu and
161Tb has to be obtained. A separation procedure of Eu and Tb from uranium, aluminum and fission products was established in this paper. Aluminum was first removed by hydroxide co-precipitation method, then uranium was removed by calcium fluoride co-precipitation method, and rare earth elements were recovered by 30% TRPO-kerosene extraction method, Eu and Tb were separated from the mixed rare earth elements by cation exchange chromatography method. When the sample contains 2 g uranium, 0.65 g aluminum and fission products, the chemical recoveries of Eu and Tb are better than 80%, the decontamination factors are greater than 106 for U,
239Np,
95Zr,
103Ru,
131I,
132Te,
140Ba,
140La,
141Ce and
147Nd. The method can meet the requirement of measurement of
156Eu and
161Tb yield in neutron-induced uranium fission.