Process for separation of zirconium from hafnium

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The separation of zirconium from hafnium is effected by forming a solution of complexes of the metals, containing a common organic ligand, where one of the complexes is excitable by light while the other complex remains stable, using light having a wavelength between 300 nm to 700 nm, and irradiating the solution with light within that wavelength, in the presence of a scavenger, to excite the one complex and cause reaction thereof with the scavenger, and separation thereof from the solution, while the other complex remains stable in said solution.