Synthesis of a new ion exchanger, zirconium vanadate, and its application to the separation of barium and cesium radionuclides at tracer levels

A new inorganic ion exchanger, zirconium vanadate, has been synthesized and characterized. Elemental analysis suggests that the probable formula of the compound is ZrO2, V2O5, 2H2O. The exchanger is highly stable in thermal, radiation and chemical environments. Radiochemical separation schemes for the 134Cs and 133Ba pair and also for separating the short-lived daughter 137Ba from its parent 137Cs using this newly synthesized ion exchanger have been developed.