- P-ISSN 1225-0163
- E-ISSN 2288-8985
The separation of Nd from the simulated <TEX>$U_3Si/Al$</TEX> spent fuel solution with sequential two-step anion exchange separation has been studied. To prepare the simulated <TEX>$U_3Si/Al$</TEX> spent nuclear fuel, unirradiated <TEX>$U_3Si/Al$</TEX> whose composition consists of small <TEX>$U_3Si$</TEX> particle dispersed in an Al matrix with Al cladding was dissolved with a mixture of 4 M HCl and 10 M <TEX>$HNO_3$</TEX> and 8 or 15 fission product elements were added to the dissolved solution. The trace amount of silica in the solutions was removed by evaporating to dryness with HF and the U was adsorbed on the first anion exchange resin. Neodymium can be purely isolated from the fission product elements with a methanol-nitric acid eluent using the second anion exchange resin. A large excess of Al didn't influence on the elution velocity of Nd, but reduced the eluted contents of Nd, Al, Eu, Gd, Sm and Sr, A large amount of Al was removed first from the column with 3 mL of loading solution (0.8 M <TEX>$HNO_3$</TEX>/99.8% MeOH) before Nd elution by the eluent [0.04 M <TEX>$HNO_3$</TEX>-99.8% MeOH(1:9)]. The recovery of Nd was more than 94%, regardless of Al contents. Taking the 9 to 13 mL fraction of eluate was effective to purely isolate Nd.