Separation of fission produced Ru from simulated high level nuclear wastes for production of brachytherapy sources.

An effective and simple process for the isolation of Ru from high-level liquid wastes was developed. Radioactive ruthenium was oxidized by HIO in HNO solution and was extracted to CCl phase in the form of RuO. In order to obtain ruthenium in the suitable form for production of brachytherapy sources, RuO in organic phase was reduced and re-extracted to aqueous phase.