The Preparation of ⁹⁰Y Generator with Hydrated Manganese Dioxide

The adsorption behaviors of hydrated manganese oxide (HMD) for Strontium and Yttrium in hydrochloric acid and nitric acid solutions were studied. HMD does not adsorb Strontium in various concentrations of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid solutions. HMD have no absorbability for Yttrium in hydrochloric acid and in nitric acid solution when the concentration of nitric acid is higher than 1 mol/L. But it shows a good absorbability for Yttrium when the concentration of nitric acid is among 0.001-0.1 mol/L. So Strontium and Yttrium can be separated in low concentration nitric acid solution. The best height-to-diameter ratio of the HMD column is 5∶1 when it used for the separation of Sr and Y. When the Sr(NO₃)₂-Y(NO₃)₃-HNO₃ mixed in 0.1 mol/L nitric acid solution passed through the HMD column, more than 90% of Yttrium were adsorbed on the column, but Strontium were not adsorbed and still remains in the solution; After the 0.1 mol/L nitric acid cleaning process, the Yttrium adsorbed on the HMD column can be eluted with 1 mol/L nitric acid to obtain a purified Y(NO₃)₃ solution. The Strontium impurity is very low in the purified Y(NO3)3 solution. Therefore, HMD is expected to be used for the preparation of ⁹⁰Y generator.