Subject of the Invention

The invention relates to a separation column used for separating the substances in a mixture.

State of the Art

Chromatography is a frequently preferred method in the applications where it is desired to separate two or more components in a mixture. The separation is realized by moving the components, which are desired to be separated by way of chromatography, at varying velocities through a stationary phase with the help of a mobile phase. In other words, the component desired to be separated is added to a stationary phase and is separated owing to the mobile phase flowing over this stationary phase.

Via the extraction chromatography technique, two or more radioactive substances with very similar chemical properties that are dissolved in an appropriate solvent are separated from one another. The radioactive substances are charged in a column with an acid of certain molarity. The acid with another molarity is passed through the column to advance the charged substances within the column. The substances to be subjected to separation move at a certain velocity downward from the top along the upright column. The column, according to the nature of the resin used, creates a phase difference for the radioactive substances passing through the same, and thus, enables the movement of the radioactive substances through the same. Knowing the movement velocities of the substances through the column and the time point at which they will exit the column influences the efficiency of the solid phase extraction. After the radioactive substance moving through the column or the cartridge arrives at the column outlet, the process is enabled to advance to the next step. Therefore, the value of activity inside the column, particularly at the column inlet and/or outlet, is important. Various detectors are used for the detection of the radioactivity inside the column. In order to be able to detect the activity by means of said detectors, the column should have certain features. The variables such as the width of the column and the wall thickness of the column are some of the important criteria for the ability to detect the activity inside the column by means of the detectors at a certain distance on the column. The constraints regarding said variables influence the column design and hence, the separation efficiency.

Owing to the column according to the invention, which comprises at least one compartment separate from said column, the activity inside the column is monitored via the mixture present in the separate compartment, and thus, the design of the column is enabled to be realized in a manner independent from the detector properties and from the constraints brought about the need to monitor the activity from within the column via the detectors. As a result of keeping small the volume of the separate compartment in the system according to the invention, the radioactive substance to pass through the system is enabled to accumulate in said separate compartment, and in this way, it becomes possible to obtain more precise measurements. of the Invention

An object of the invention is to develop a column wherein the activity inside said column may be monitored via a compartment separate from said column.

Another object of the invention is to develop a column wherein the activity may be monitored via a compartment separate from said column, and thus, the necessity to use detectors with properties varying according to the type of column is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to develop a column wherein the activity may be monitored via a compartment separate from said column, and thus, it becomes possible to arrange the column cross-section independently of the detector properties.

Figure 1: A view of an embodiment comprising a separate compartment at the column outlet

Figure 2: A view of an embodiment comprising a separate compartment at the column inlet

Figure 3: A view of an embodiment comprising separate compartments both at the column inlet and column outlet

Figure 4: A view of an embodiment comprising a separate compartment with a structure integrated with the column plug Reference Numerals

K : Column

A : Separate compartment

AG : Separate compartment inlet

AC : Separate compartment outlet

D : Detector

T : Plug

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a separation column (K) used for separating the substances in a mixture. More particularly, the invention relates to a column (K) having at least one compartment, which is separated from said column (K) and via which the activity inside said column (K) may be monitored.

The column (K) according to the invention has at least one separate compartment (A) separate from the body of said column (K), through which compartment the radioactive mixture inside said column (K) passes and via which the activity of the mixture may be monitored. Even though the separate compartment (A) is located outside the body of the column (K), the mixture inside the column (K) is connected with said column (K) such that it will pass through the separate compartment (A) also. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said separate compartment (A) has at least one separate compartment inlet (AG) enabling the mixture inside the column (K) to enter said separate compartment (A) and at least one separate compartment outlet (AC) enabling the mixture inside said separate compartment (A) to exit said separate compartment (A).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the separate compartment (A) is a structure independent from the column (K) and it is able to be attached to and detached from the column (K). The separate compartments (A) with different geometries and in different numbers may be used according to the type of the detector (D) employed in said embodiment and/or the type of the mixture to be separated. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the separate compartment (A) has a structure monolithic with the column (K).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said separate compartment (A) has a geometry and structure that will allow the activity of the mixture inside the same to be measured by the detector (D) or detectors (D).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the column (K) has at least one column (K) inlet where the radioactive substance enters the body of said column (K) and/or at least one column (K) outlet where the radioactive substance leaves the body of said column (K). At least one plug (T) is located at the column (K) inlet end and/or column (K) outlet end of the body of the column (K). Said plugs (T) are secured via at least one cap so that they can resist the pressure inside the body of the column (K). Said cap is preferably a threaded cap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the separate compartment (A) has a structure monolithic with the plug (T) of the column (K).

The mixture desired to be separated by means of the column (K) according to the invention is charged in said column (K) via the column (K) inlet with an acid of certain molarity, the radioactive substance accumulates at the column (K) inlet, the acid used for charging is directed to the column (K) outlet and the radioactive substance is enabled to move within the column (K) by changing the molarity of the acid introduced to the column (K) inlet. After the movement of the radioactive substance within the column (K) starts, the mixture fills in also the separate compartment (A) as a result of the movement, the activity of the mixture inside the separate compartment (A) is measured by means of the radioactivity detector (D), and the process moves on to the subsequent separation step according to the measurement performed.

As a result of keeping small the volume of the separate compartment (A) in the system according to the invention, the radioactive substance to pass through the system is enabled to accumulate in said separate compartment (A), and in this way, it becomes possible to obtain more precise measurements. The acid passed through the column (K) creates a pressure in the range of 3-25 bar inside said column (K) depending on the size of said column (K) and said column (K) is a column (K) with structure capable of resisting said pressure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the separate compartment (A) is located at the column (K) inlet and/or column (K) outlet.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said column (K) and/or separate compartment (A) has/have a circular cross-section.

The separation with the column (K) according to the invention is performed via the following process steps:

• Charging the radioactive substance in the column (K) via the column (K) inlet with an acid of certain molarity,

• the radioactive substance accumulating in the top portion of the body of the column (K), more specifically at the column (K) inlet end,

• directing the acid used for charging to the drain via the column (K) outlet,

• changing the molarity of the acid introduced to the column (K) inlet, and thus, enabling the charged radioactive materials desired to be subjected to separation to move inside the column (K),

• after the start of said movement, the radioactivity detector (D) detecting the activity of the mixture filled in the separate compartment (A) from the column (K), and

• moving on to the next process step according to the activity detected.

The movement mentioned in the step of changing the molarity of the acid introduced to the column (K) inlet, and thus, enabling the charged radioactive materials desired to be subjected to separation to move inside the column (K) is from the column (K) inlet end towards the column (K) outlet end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said column (K) is a column (K) used for the separation of the rare earth elements. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said column (K) is a column (K) used for the separation of the radioactive substances. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said column (K) is a column (K) used for the separation of ytterbium and lutetium. More particularly, it is a column (K) used for the separation of ytterbium 176 (Yb-176) isotope and lutetium 177 (Lu-177) isotope.

A separation column (K) having a separate compartment (A) according to the invention is used in the chromatography devices enabling the separation of more than one radioactive substance. Said chromatography device, which is used for the separation of radioactive substances and which comprises a separation column (K) having a separate compartment (A), is also within the scope of the invention.