Method for the purification of radium from different sources

A method for recycling 226Radium from radium sources irradiated with accelerated protons (p,2n), the method comprising:

• a) determining the quality of a Ra-containing solution to be purified;
• b) concentrating the Ra-containing solution by evaporation;
• c) removing trace amounts of organic compounds from the concentrated Ra-containing solution with a prefilter column;
• d) separating Radium from chemical contaminants by performing at least one cation exchange chromatography using a cation exchange resin;
• e) washing the cation exchange resin with low molar mineral acid to remove chemical contaminants;
• f) eluting Radium from the cation exchange resin with high molar mineral acid to generate partially purified Radium fractions;
• g) pooling and concentrating the partially purified Radium fractions;
• and
• h) subjecting the partially purified Ra fractions to at least one extraction chromatography step, wherein said extraction chromatography step is performed on a solid support material having an extractant system coated thereon, comprising at least one compound in accordance with general formula I in at least one compound in accordance with general formula II,
• wherein in formula I:
• R8 and R9 independently is H, C1-C6 alkyl, or t-butyl;
• and
• wherein in formula II:
• R10 is C4 to C12 alkyl;
• and wherein HNO3 or HCl is used as mobile phase,
• i) recovering Radium from the early fractions, whereas Ba and Sr are contained in fractions with higher retention time;
• j) pooling Radium fractions;
• and
• k) concentrating the purified Ra fractions.