Fast radiochemical separations for heavy elements

Rapid radiochemical separation procedures for the investigation of the chemical behaviour of the heavy elements on a one-atom-at-a-time scale are reviewed. Besides the microcomputer con trolled apparatus ARCA II as an example for a discontinuous technique, the fast on-line solvent extraction system SISAK 3 connected with liquid scintillation counting and the on-line gas chemistry apparates OLGA II and HEVI are described in more detail. Some results on the chemical properties of the heaviest actinides and the first two transactinide elements obtained with these techniques are presented and prospects for chemical studies of still heavier elements are briefly discussed.