Gas-phase molybdenum-99 separation from uranium dioxide by fluoride volatility using nitrogen trifluoride
Abstract
Production of the important 99mTc medical isotope parent, molybdenum-99 (99Mo), via the fissioning of high- and low-enriched uranium (HEU/LEU) targets followed by target dissolution in acid and solution-phase purification of 99Mo is time-consuming, generates quantities of corrosive radioactive waste, and can result in the release of an array of radionuclides to the atmosphere. An alternative 99Mo purification method has been devised that has the potential to alleviate many of these issues. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of a rapid Mo/Tc gas-phase separation from UO2. The results indicate that volatile [99Mo]Mo can be captured downstream of the reacted solid mixture on a column bed (trap) of alumina; the majority of the captured [99Mo]Mo can be subsequently eluted from the alumina trap with a few milliliters of water. >1.0 × 105 single pass decontamination of U and the collected [99Mo]Mo product is demonstrated. This simple thermo-fluorination technique has the potential to provide a rapid methodology for routine 99Mo production.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[2]
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Flibe Energy, Richland, WA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1599144
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-148868
Journal ID: ISSN 2046-2069; RSCACL
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- RSC Advances
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2046-2069
- Publisher:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Citation Formats
McNamara, Bruce K., O'Hara, Matthew J., Clark, Richard A., Morrison, Samuel S., Soderquist, Chuck Z., and Scheele, Randall D. Gas-phase molybdenum-99 separation from uranium dioxide by fluoride volatility using nitrogen trifluoride. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1039/C9RA10270A.
McNamara, Bruce K., O'Hara, Matthew J., Clark, Richard A., Morrison, Samuel S., Soderquist, Chuck Z., & Scheele, Randall D. Gas-phase molybdenum-99 separation from uranium dioxide by fluoride volatility using nitrogen trifluoride. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA10270A
McNamara, Bruce K., O'Hara, Matthew J., Clark, Richard A., Morrison, Samuel S., Soderquist, Chuck Z., and Scheele, Randall D. Tue .
"Gas-phase molybdenum-99 separation from uranium dioxide by fluoride volatility using nitrogen trifluoride". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA10270A. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1599144.
@article{osti_1599144,
title = {Gas-phase molybdenum-99 separation from uranium dioxide by fluoride volatility using nitrogen trifluoride},
author = {McNamara, Bruce K. and O'Hara, Matthew J. and Clark, Richard A. and Morrison, Samuel S. and Soderquist, Chuck Z. and Scheele, Randall D.},
abstractNote = {Production of the important 99mTc medical isotope parent, molybdenum-99 (99Mo), via the fissioning of high- and low-enriched uranium (HEU/LEU) targets followed by target dissolution in acid and solution-phase purification of 99Mo is time-consuming, generates quantities of corrosive radioactive waste, and can result in the release of an array of radionuclides to the atmosphere. An alternative 99Mo purification method has been devised that has the potential to alleviate many of these issues. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of a rapid Mo/Tc gas-phase separation from UO2. The results indicate that volatile [99Mo]Mo can be captured downstream of the reacted solid mixture on a column bed (trap) of alumina; the majority of the captured [99Mo]Mo can be subsequently eluted from the alumina trap with a few milliliters of water. >1.0 × 105 single pass decontamination of U and the collected [99Mo]Mo product is demonstrated. This simple thermo-fluorination technique has the potential to provide a rapid methodology for routine 99Mo production.},
doi = {10.1039/C9RA10270A},
journal = {RSC Advances},
number = 6,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}
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