Opportunities and challenges of high-pressure ion exchange chromatography for nuclide separation and enrichment

With the rapid development of the nuclear industry,more-stringent requirements are proposed for highlevel radioactive waste liquid treatment and the enrichment of isotope products.High-pressure ion exchange chromatography has been widely accepted for the fine separation of elements and nuclides due to its advantages,such as high efficiency,environmental friendliness,ease of operation,and feasibility for large-scale industrial applications.Here,we summarized the evolution of high-pressure ion exchange chromatography and the relevant research progress in ion exchange equilibrium and related separation technology.The prospects for application of high-pressure ion exchange chromatography to rare earth elements,actinide elements and isotope separation were discussed.High-pressure ion exchange chromatography represents a promising strategy for the extraction of rare earth elements and actinide elements from high-level radioactive waste liquid,as well as being an effective method for the automated production of high purity isotope products with great environmental benefits.