Abstract: An efficient and economical separation of the gadolinium isotopes Gd.sup.155, Gd.sup.156 and/or Gd.sup.157 from mixtures containing the same is effected by a liquid chromatographic column system using an ion exchange resin and an eluant solution. A portion of the eluant solution is used to saturate the columns and a feed solution containing the mixture of gadolinium isotopes is charged to the columns. Further eluant solution is passed through the saturated columns containing the feed solution to form a fraction of eluant solution rich in the desired gadolinium isotopes which is separated from the remainder of the eluant upon discharge from the columns.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating metal surfaces having radioactive oxide deposits thereon is disclosed which comprises preparing a decontamination solution having a pH of about 1.5 to about 4 comprising water, about 0.02 to about 0.5% of a water soluble organic acid which has an equilibrium constant in a complex with ferric ion of at least about 10.sup.9 and which is capable of producing a pH of about 2 to about 3 in water, and about 0.01 to about 0.4% of a chelate in free acid form which has an equilibrium constant in a complex with ferric ion of about 10.sup.15 to about 10.sup.19 and which is at least 0.4% soluble at 40.degree. C. in water having a pH of about 2 to about 3. An apparatus for performing the above method is disclosed.

Abstract: Vapor of dicyclopentadienyl zirconium dicyanate is irradiated by a laser beam of a CO.sub.2 laser tuned to the stretching frequency of the .sup.S Zr-O-C bond of the dicyanate where .sup.S Zr is a selected isotope of zirconium. The excited component of the irradiated dicyanate including the .sup.S Zr is decomposed and is separated from the remainder.