Production of isotopes using high power proton beams

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016111176-A1
Application number	US-201514949665-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 10, 2010
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides for a method for producing isotopes using a beam of particles from an accelerator, whereby the beam is maintained at between about 70 to 2000 MeV; and contacting a thorium-containing target with the particles. The medically important isotope 225 Ac is produced via the nuclear reaction (p,2p6n),whereby an energetic proton causes the ejection of 2 protons and 6 neutrons from a 232 Th target nucleus. Another medically important isotope 213 Bi is then available as a decay product. The production of highly purified 211 At is also provided.

First claim

1 . A method for producing astatine isotope, the method comprising:
a. irradiating a thorium target for a time and at an energy sufficient to produce radon isotopes; b. extracting the radon isotopes from the target; c. condensing and purifying the extracted radon isotopes; and d. generating At from the purified radon isotopes.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the target is irradiated with protons maintained at an energy of about 100 to 400 MeV.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein 211 At is generated from the decay of 211 Rn and chemically separated from radon gas.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of extracting the radon isotopes from the target comprises heating the irradiated target.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the radon is extracted along with co-extractants as a gas mixture and the step of purifying the radon comprises subjecting the gas mixture to a cold trap to separate the co-extractants from radon.

6 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the radon remains in vapor phase.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the radon is continuously extracted from the target.

Assignees

• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Nolen Jr Jerry A
• Gomes Itacil C

Classifications

• G21G1/001 Primary

  Recovery of specific isotopes from irradiated targets · CPC title

• G21G1/10 Primary

  by bombardment with electrically charged particles (irradiation devices G21K5/00) · CPC title

• G21G2001/0084

  Bismuth · CPC title

• G21G2001/0089

  Actinium · CPC title

• G21G2001/0094

  Other isotopes not provided for in the groups listed above · CPC title