Kazuo Watari

Isolation of 137Cs with Copper Ferrocyanide-Anion Exchange Resin

The adsorption and desorption of 137Cs on copper ferrocyanide-anion exchange resin, prepared in the manner previously reported in this Journal in a Short Note, are presented in detail. This resin can also be used for the concentration of the 137Cs found in sea water. The nuclide is adsorbed effectively on the resin from water, hydrochloric acid below 4 M, and on nitric acid below 1M. After adsorpsion on the resin, 137Cs is eluted easily with either nitric acid (>6M), ammonium water, or silver nitrate solution. Adsorption on the resin is specific for 137Cs, and the action is due entirely to the ferrocyanide moiety of the resin. This method is more efficient than the co-precipitation method with copper ferrocyanide for the concentration of radiocesium from a large volume of sea water.

Radiochemical Application of "Iron Ferrocyanide-Anion Exchange Resin"

Preparation of iron ferrocyanide-anion exchange resin and adsorption of 137Cs on the resin are described. The resin was found to effectively adsorb 137Cs from concentrated nitric acid solution, contrast to the negative results previously obtained with copper ferrocyanide-anion exchange resin. A discussion is given of the possibility of applying the iron resin to the removal of 137Cs from fuel reprocessing waste solution. Fission products were effectively separated from each other with a column of this resin, utilizing the properties possessed by it of both iron ferrocyanide and the parent ion exchange resin.

Study of Multi-loaded Metal Salt-lon Exchange Resins, (I) Multi-loaded Nickel Ferrocyanide-Anion Exchange Resin and Nickel Ferrocyanide •calcium Phosphate-Anion Exchange Resin

This report discusses the preparation of a number of metal salt-ion exchange resins and their application to radiochemical separation. The resins prepared by the subject method have properties of both metal salt and ion exchange resin. The present report describes the preparation and application of multi-loaded metal salt-ion exchange resin which contain one or more kinds of insoluble metal salt in an ion exchange resin, for which the residual ion exchange ability of an intermediate metal salt-ion exchange resin is utilized. The properties of multi-loaded nickel ferrocyanide-anion exchange resin and nickel ferrocyanide-calcium phosphate-anion exchange resin are also discussed.

Determination of thorium in the organs of deceased Thorotrast patients

Abstract“Thorotrast” was widely used in the past as an X-ray contrast medium, containing a colloidal solution of thorium dioxide (232ThO2). After injection, thorium accumulates and is mainly retained in the liver. Thus once Thorotrast is administered, patients might be chronically exposed to α-radiations. Recently, significant development of cirrhosis and cancer of the liver has often been noted among Thorotrast patients. Additionally the incidence of lung and breast disease has significantly increased. Thus, the assessment of internal radiation dose from deposits of Thorotrast is very important. In this report, the thorium content in various organs was determined by means of neutron activation analysis. All the samples were taken from organs of Thorotrast patients subsequent to death. The ashed samples were irradiated in a reactor. After cooling, the content of thorium was determined by measurement of gamma rays resulting from the decay of protactinium-233. For comparison, measurements by other analytical methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, colorimetric analysis using ArsenazoIII and radiation measurement of γ-rays from actinium-228, were carried out.

PREPARATION OF “METAL SALT-ION EXCHANGE RESINS” AND THEIR APPLICATION TO RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSES

Abstract A series of a new type of adsorbents for radionuclides in aqueous solutions has been synthesized consisting of an ion exchange resin and an inorganic salt, and their properties were studied. We named them “metal salt-ion exchange resins”. Preparation of the “resins” are simple and easy. For example, “ferric hydroxide-cation exchange resin” can be made by putting a ferric form of a cation resin into a concentrated hydroxide ion solution, and “copper ferrocyanide-anion exchange resin” by putting a ferrocyanide form of an anion resin into a cupric ion solution. The prepared “resins” have combined adsorption properties of both the metal salt and the exchange resin moieties. They are generally non-hygroscopic and granular, so that they can be stored in dry state. In principle, the “resins” can be made by any combination of insoluble metal salts and ion exchange resins. By considering adsorption capacity and exchangeability of metal salts and resins, a wide variety of applications of the “resins” can be made for chemical and radiochemical analyses; e.g. “metal hydroxide-resins” for adsorption of zirconium, ruthenium and alkaline earth ions, “metal ferrocyanide-resins” for specific adsorption of cesium and for mutual separation of alkali metals and of fission products (Sr, Zr, Nb, Ru, Cs, Ce). A few examples of applications of “ferrocyanide-resins” are presented.

Radiochemical uses of a non-ionic resinous adsorbent of macro-reticular type

Recently, a new type of resinous adsorbent has been developed as an effective adsorbent for a number of organic materials. The adsorbent has macro-reticular structure and no ion-exchange capacity.This paper deals with the adsorption of typical fission products and induced radionuclides on Amberlite XAD-2, with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) as the organic reagent.It was found that60Co,59Fe,144Ce,95Zr, and106Ru were transferred to the adsorbent phase from various solutions, when oxinates of the nuclides were formed in the solutions. Without oxine, most of the nuclides were not adsorbed on the adsorbent.137Cs and85Sr were not adsorbed on XAD-2 with or without oxine.