Methods of separating short half-life radionuclides from a mixture of radionuclides

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871847

Bray, Lane A ^[1]; Ryan, Jack L ^[2]

---

1. Richland, WA
2. West Richland, WA

The present invention is a method of obtaining a radionuclide product selected from the group consisting of .sup.223 Ra and .sup.225 Ac, from a radionuclide "cow" of .sup.227 Ac or .sup.229 Th respectively. The method comprises the steps of a) permitting ingrowth of at least one radionuclide daughter from said radionuclide "cow" forming an ingrown mixture; b) insuring that the ingrown mixture is a nitric acid ingrown mixture; c) passing the nitric acid ingrown mixture through a first nitrate form ion exchange column which permits separating the "cow" from at least one radionuclide daughter; d) insuring that the at least one radionuclide daughter contains the radionuclide product; e) passing the at least one radionuclide daughter through a second ion exchange column and separating the at least one radionuclide daughter from the radionuclide product and f) recycling the at least one radionuclide daughter by adding it to the "cow". In one embodiment the radionuclide "cow" is the .sup.227 Ac, the at least one daughter radionuclide is a .sup.227 Th and the product radionuclide is the .sup.223 Ra and the first nitrate form ion exchange column passes the .sup.227 Ac and retains the .sup.227 Th. In another embodiment the radionuclide "cow"is the .sup.229 Th, the at least one daughter radionuclide is a .sup.225 Ra and said product radionuclide is the .sup.225 Ac and the .sup.225 Ac and nitrate form ion exchange column retains the .sup.229 Th and passes the .sup.225 Ra/Ac.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5809394
• OSTI ID: 871847
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

methods
separating
half-life
radionuclides
mixture
method
obtaining
radionuclide
product
selected
consisting
223
225
cow
227
229
respectively
comprises
steps
permitting
ingrowth
daughter
forming
ingrown
insuring
nitric
acid
passing
nitrate
form
exchange
column
permits
contains
recycling
adding
embodiment
passes
retains
exchange column
method comprises
nitric acid
method comprise
half-life radionuclides
/423/250/376/