Isolation and quantification of 55Fe and 63Ni in reactor effluents using extraction chromatography and liquid scintillation analysis

A novel extraction chromatographic resin based on diisobutyl ketone has been developed for the isolation of 55Fe. This material has been used in conjunction with a dimethylglyoxime-based resin for the sequential separation of 55Fe and 63Ni and isolation of these radionuclides from associated contaminants. The preparation and characterisation of these resins is described along with an assessment of their performance for the isolation of 55Fe and 63Ni from a mixture of nuclear activation products. In addition, a refined approach for the measurement of these nuclides by liquid scintillation counting is discussed. The findings of these studies have been combined to develop a robust procedure for the analysis of 55Fe and 63Ni in reactor effluents which is now the preferred method for a number of UK analytical laboratories.