ABSTRACT
Ion exchange plays a key role in the processing of nuclear materials. Ion exchange offers the unique advantage of achieving high concentration factors without the solids-handling issues associated with precipitation. To that end, ion exchange was initially applied to nuclear materials processing to concentrate plutonium after solvent extraction was used to separate the plutonium from the balance of the fission products and uranium. Subsequently, ion exchange processes have been used to both concentrate and purify a variety of streams. One of the singular advantages of ion exchange processes is the ability to achieve extremely high decontamination factors in a single stage. Factors that must be considered when deploying ion exchange processes include the choice of eluant, the eluant conditions, and the stability of the ion exchange media in the high radiation fields that are frequently encountered in nuclear materials processing.
