Studies on the Development of a Two Stage SLM System for the Separation of Carrier‐free 90Y using KSM‐17 and CMPO as Carriers

Abstract Solvent extraction studies of Y3+ and Sr2+ with 2‐ethylhexyl 2‐ethylhexyl phosphonic acid (KSM‐17) and octyl(phenyl)‐N,N‐diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) are carried out from aqueous media containing a wide range of nitric acid and other potential reagents to arrive at the operating conditions for the selective transport of 90Y using supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing these reagents as carriers. Since the transport data of 90Y using single cell SLM with KSM‐17 was available from our earlier experiments, single cell transport studies with CMPO carrier are only carried out to optimize the strippant phase. Transport studies with pure 90Y is carried out using a transport cell with two SLMs one with KSM‐17 and the other CMPO carriers to optimize the transport parameters. Based on these data the development of a two stage SLM system for the generation of carrier free 90Y from 90Sr source is described. The procedure described is amenable for automation and scale up.