Separation Method of Uranium and Trace Protactinium

It is required to separate uranium and protactinium in the determination of highly enriched uranium age. Distribution coefficients of uranium and protactinium were studied with the concentration of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and so on using nature uranium and ²³³Pa as tracers. The method of separating protactinium and uranium using the TEVA chromatographic method was developed. The radiochemical recovery of protactinium is 99%. The decontamination factor for protactinium is 5.4×10³. The chemical recovery rate of uranium is 96%, and the decontamination factor for uranium is 2.8×10³.