1. Eichrom Resin Columns: A New breakthrough
Anil Thakkar
Eichrom Users’ Group Workshop
May 3, 2005
Oak Ridge, TN

2. Background details
Stripping issues of Th on TEVA prepacked columns reported by numerous customers
Investigated all the components of the prepacaked column to trouble shoot the problem: resin, column body, resin bead size, frits….

3. Previously discussed investigations….
Column frits identified as the main cause of the problem
Investigations on frits led to the understanding of different frit types:
Frits with ‘ionic surfactant’
Impact Th elution from TEVA columns
Impact low level U elution on UTEVA columns
Frits with ‘no surfactant’
Measured slow flow rates at gravity
Mechanical pressure required to start the flow
Measured inconsistent flow rates

4. Additional issues reported
Poor elution of low level U on UTEVA columns reported
An inconsistent elution of Th on UTEVA columns has been observed

5. Additional research continues…
A ‘non-ionic surfactant’ frit material found and put to test

6. TEVA Column: Performance Test
Columns packed with non-ionic frit material
Measured performance of columns over a period of time

7. TEVA Columns: % Th Yields
# of days since packing
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic)
1 day
68 + 8
8 days
73 + 5
16 days
33 + 7

8. TEVA Columns: % Pu Yields with 0.5M HCl*
# of days since packing
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic)
22 day
< 2
84 + 6
*INEEL procedure uses 0.5M HCl to elute Pu

9. TEVA Columns: % Am Yields (Am/ Lanthanide Separation)
# of days since packing
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic)
1 day

10. TEVA Columns: % Tc-99 Yields
# of days since packing
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic)
22 day
98 + 1

11. UTEVA, TRU, Sr and Ln columns tested after
2 weeks of packing

12. UTEVA Columns: % U & Th Yields
Radionuclide tested
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic) U
Th*
<1
*Th eluted with 5M HCl/0.05M oxalic acid

13. TRU Columns: % Am & Pu Yields
Radionuclide tested
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic) Am Pu

14. Sr Columns: % Sr Yields & Recoveries
Radionuclide tested
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic)
Stable Sr
98 + 4
99 + 3
Sr-90

15. Ln Columns: % Ac-228 Yields
Radionuclide tested
Standard Frits
(ionic)
New Frits
(non-ionic)
Ac-228
93 + 4

16. Improvements & Summary
Non-ionic surfactant frits improve performance
Th elution on TEVA
Th elution on UTEVA
Pu elution on TEVA
No impact observed on the performance of the following products with non-ionic frits
Am & Pu on TRU resin
Tc-99, Am on TEVA resin
Sr elution on Sr resin
Ac elution on Ln resin

17. Future resin column inventory
Preliminary evaluation of prepacked column products with the new frits (non-ionic surfactant) has been extremely satisfactory
New frit inventory for future production has been ordered
Current inventory has old frits (ionic surfactant) in the prepacked column products
Any users of TEVA resin and UTEVA resin prepacked columns may consider cartridges in the interim
Contact Eichrom for further assistance