Method for isolating and purifying 90Y From 90strontium in multi-curie quantities

A process for separating and purifying yttrium isotope consisting of 87Y, 90Y, or 91Y from strontium-90, comprising:

• a. dissolving a nitrate salt of an original 90Sr stock solution in H2O creating a strontium nitrate solution;
• b. acidifying said strontium nitrate solution containing 90Y with concentrated nitric acid;
• c. evaporating said acidified strontium nitrate solution;
• d. filtering or centrifuging said evaporated strontium nitrate solution to separate crystalline 90Sr nitrate salt from said solution to make an yttrium enriched supernate;
• e. evaporating said yttrium enriched supernate to dryness;
• f. dissolving said dried yttrium enriched supernate which is free of nitric acid in a strong acid;
• g. passing said dissolved yttrium enriched supernate through an yttrium selective extraction chromatographic column such that essentially all said yttrium isotope is retained while all other trace metals and impurities pass through and are recycled back to said original 90Sr stock solution;
• h. rinsing said yttrium selective extraction chromatographic column with a strong acid to remove any remaining 90Sr which is recycled back to said original 90Sr stock solution;
• and
• i. eluting said yttrium isotope from said yttrium selective extraction chromatographic column with a strong acid.