Chapter 13
Radiochemical Separation Techniques
13.1 Introduction
In this chapter, efforts are made to give a brief outline of a few techniques, which
are routinely followed in radiochemical experiments. It is important to realize that in
radiochemical separation techniques, emphasis is given to the purity of radioactive
material and not much to their chemical purity. This is mainly because the amount of
activity is measured with the help of the various radiations emitted by the radioactive isotopes. Therefore, in radiochemical separation techniques, we are concerned
with the efficiency of separation at the atomic level and hence the technique adopted
must be very specific to the requirements. The radiochemical separation techniques
normally are used for the separation of radioactive isotopes from the target material used for carrying out nuclear reaction initiated by neutrons or any heavy ions
accelerated particles. Sometimes one needs to separate the radioactive isotopes from
some chemical reactions being conducted or biological processes to study the nature
of chemical reactions or biological reaction processes etc.
In general radiochemical techniques provide the means for the following:
1. Separation of radioactive isotopes from the original target material (i.e., the material used for generating radioactive isotopes) or from any other unwanted radioactive isotopes which have been produced during nuclear irradiation.
2. Preparation of the radioactive source for counting purposes and
3. Identification of various radioactive isotopes produced during nuclear irradiation.
Some of the techniques used for these purposes are discussed here.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Sharon and M. Sharon, Nuclear Chemistry,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62018-9_13
201
Radiochemical Separation Techniques
13.1 Introduction
In this chapter, efforts are made to give a brief outline of a few techniques, which
are routinely followed in radiochemical experiments. It is important to realize that in
radiochemical separation techniques, emphasis is given to the purity of radioactive
material and not much to their chemical purity. This is mainly because the amount of
activity is measured with the help of the various radiations emitted by the radioactive isotopes. Therefore, in radiochemical separation techniques, we are concerned
with the efficiency of separation at the atomic level and hence the technique adopted
must be very specific to the requirements. The radiochemical separation techniques
normally are used for the separation of radioactive isotopes from the target material used for carrying out nuclear reaction initiated by neutrons or any heavy ions
accelerated particles. Sometimes one needs to separate the radioactive isotopes from
some chemical reactions being conducted or biological processes to study the nature
of chemical reactions or biological reaction processes etc.
In general radiochemical techniques provide the means for the following:
1. Separation of radioactive isotopes from the original target material (i.e., the material used for generating radioactive isotopes) or from any other unwanted radioactive isotopes which have been produced during nuclear irradiation.
2. Preparation of the radioactive source for counting purposes and
3. Identification of various radioactive isotopes produced during nuclear irradiation.
Some of the techniques used for these purposes are discussed here.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Sharon and M. Sharon, Nuclear Chemistry,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62018-9_13
201