Systems and methods for separating yttrium and strontium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12371338-B2
Application number	US-202016780397-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2020
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for separating Y and Sr are provided. The systems and methods provide combinations of solutions, vessels, and/or media that can provide Y solutions of industrially beneficial concentration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for separating Y and Sr, the method comprising:
providing a dilute acidic mixture equal to or less than 0.1M concentration of acid and comprising Y and Sr to a first vessel having a first media therein; and
while providing the dilute acidic mixture, retaining at least some of the Y from the dilute acidic mixture within the first vessel while eluting at least some of the Sr from the dilute acidic mixture to form a dilute acidic eluent having equal to or less than 0.1M concentration of acid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic mixture comprises 90 Y and 90 Sr.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic mixture additionally comprises stable Sr, Ca and/or Ba.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic mixture comprises stockpiled Sr-bearing nuclear material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first media comprises a resin.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first media comprises an HDEHP resin.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first media comprises alkylphosphorus extractants.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic eluent comprises at least some Sr from the dilute acidic mixture.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing the dilute acidic mixture from a reservoir; and
providing the dilute acidic eluent to the reservoir.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic mixture further comprises Zr.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein while providing the dilute acidic mixture, further comprising retaining at least some of the Zr from the dilute acidic mixture within the first vessel.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic mixture further comprises Fe.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein while providing the dilute acidic mixture, further comprising retaining at least some of the Fe from the dilute acidic mixture within the first vessel.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the dilute acidic mixture comprises HCl.

15. The method for separating Y and Sr of claim 1 , wherein the dilute acidic mixture has a K d of at least 10.

16. The method for separating Y and Sr of claim 15 , wherein the concentrated acid mixture has a K d of less than 10.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute

Inventors

• O'Hara Matthew J

Classifications

• C01G25/003

  Preparation involving a liquid-liquid extraction, an adsorption or an ion-exchange · CPC title

• C22B26/20

  Obtaining alkaline earth metals or magnesium · CPC title

• C01G49/0009

  Preparation involving a liquid-liquid extraction, an adsorption or an ion-exchange · CPC title

• C22B61/00

  Obtaining metals not elsewhere provided for in this subclass (iron C21) · CPC title

• C01F11/005

  Preparation involving liquid-liquid extraction, absorption or ion-exchange · CPC title