Novel 90Sr-90Y generator system based on a cross-flow hollow fiber supported liquid membrane contactor

Separation of yttrium(III) from strontium(II) with 15% (v/v) di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) in dodecane was carried out in a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction system operated under closed-loop recirculation of the donor and acceptor phase. The donor phase was a mixture of 5.7 mmol dm-3 of Sr(II) and 0.23 mmol dm-3 of Y(III) in 0.1 mol dm-3 HCl, the acceptor solution was 3 mol dm-3 HCl, and the donor to acceptor phase volume ratio was 6.2. At the donor flow rate of 4.7 cm3 min-1 and the acceptor flow rate of 0.8 cm3 min-1, the yield of Y(III) in the acceptor phase reached 60% after 360 min with a molar ratio of Y(III) to Sr(II) in the acceptor of 250:1, as compared to 1:25 in the donor phase. The yield of Y(III) was 72% at the acceptor flow rate to 1.9 cm3 min-1, but a breakthrough of Sr(II) through liquid membrane increased from 0.02 to 0.2%.