Separation of Yttrium and Uranium from Xenotime Using Poly(Hydroxamic Acid) Chelating Ion Exchange Resin

M. J. Haron¹, W. M. Z. Wan Yunus², P. C. Yap¹, M. A. Sukari¹ and M. Y. M. Sulaiman²*

¹Chemistry Department, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia) ²Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), 43000 Kajang, Selangor, (Malaysia)

Poly(hydroxamic acid) chelating ion exchange resin (PHA) was found able to sorb uranium (VI) with a higher capacity compared to yttrium (III) in sodium acetate buffer solution at pH 4. Yttrium (III) and uranium (VI) from leached solution of xenotime sample was separated after passing it through the column packed with the ion exchanger. The yttrium (III) was eluted with buffer solution at pH 4 while the resin retained the uranium (VI). The uranium (VI) was eluted from the column with 2M nitric acid.

Poly hydroxamic acid; xenotime; ion exchange resin