Microscopic analyses of complexes formed in adsorbent for Mo and Zr separation chromatography

Molybdenum and zirconium obstruct the efficient recovery of minor actinides (MA(III): Am(III) and Cm(III)) by extraction chromatography; hence, the removal of these elements prior to MA(III) recovery is desirable. The use of an adsorbent impregnated with bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) for Mo and Zr decontamination was evaluated in this report. The adsorption/elution and column separation experiments showed that Mo and Zr in the simulated HLLW were selectively adsorbed on the particles, and that Mo was eluted by H2O2. EXAFS analysis and SAXS patterns of the adsorbent containing Zr revealed that the Zr-HDEHP complex had a crystal-like periodic structure similar to the structure of the precipitate produced in the solvent extraction system. Micro-PIXE analysis revealed that distribution of the residual Zr on the adsorbent was uniform.