Stepwise Chemical Separation Methods and Systems Using Resin Packed Columns

A method of radionuclide waste extraction, the method comprising:

• directing a waste stream from an upstream segment of a main waste pathway into a uranium adsorption column of a column set, wherein:
• the column set further comprises a supporting adsorption column fluidly coupled to the uranium adsorption column along the main waste pathway and positioned downstream the uranium adsorption column;
• and
• a strip waste pathway extends from the uranium adsorption column to a column effluent tank bypassing the supporting adsorption column;
• adsorbing uranium from the waste stream onto an anion exchange resin housed in the uranium adsorption column;
• directing the waste stream from the uranium adsorption column into the supporting adsorption column;
• and
• adsorbing one or more target radionuclides onto a cation exchange resin housed in the supporting adsorption column.