Title: High efficiency continuous-flow production of radioisotopes

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for continuous-flow production of radioisotopes with high specific activity. Radioisotopes with high specific activity produced according to the methods described are also provided. The methods can include causing a liquid capture matrix to contact a target containing a target nuclide; irradiating the target with radiation, ionizing radiation, particles, or a combination thereof to produce the radionuclides that are ejected from the target and into the capture matrix; and causing the liquid capture matrix containing the radionuclides to flow from the target to recover the capture matrix containing the radionuclides with high specific activity. The methods are suitable for the production of a variety of radionuclides. For example, in some aspects the target nuclide is 237Np, and the radionuclide is 238Np that decays to produce 238Pu. In other aspects, the target nuclide is 98Mo, and the radionuclide is Mo that decays to produce 99mTc.

Inventors:

Nilsson, Mikael; Safavi-Tehrani, Leila; Miller, George E.

Issue Date:

Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1771508

Patent Number(s):

10804000

Application Number:

15/598,918

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01P - INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

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C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

C01B25/451 - {containing metal and ammonium}

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01P - INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

C01P2006/44 - Alpha, beta or gamma radiation related properties

C - CHEMISTRY C07 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY C07F - ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM

C07F3/00 - Compounds containing elements of Groups 2 or 12 of the Periodic System

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21G - CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS

G21G1/001 - {Recovery of specific isotopes from irradiated targets}
G21G1/06 - by neutron irradiation
G21G2001/0036 - {Molybdenum}

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DOE Contract Number:  

NE0000361

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 05/18/2017

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES