Sytem and method for collecting and isolating radiosotopes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020082956-A1
Application number	US-201916554048-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2019
Priority date	Sep 6, 2018
Publication date	Mar 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for obtaining 225AC from 225Ra having the steps of assembling a column having an inorganic stationary phase; priming the column to immobilize 226Ra 225Ra and natural decay products therefrom; immobilizing the 226Ra, 225Ra, 224Ra, and natural decay products therefrom onto a stationary phase within the column; and eluting the column containing the 225Ra with an aqueous sulfate solution to obtain a milking effluent that contains 225AC. Also provided is a method for obtaining pure 225AC from its isotope parents, the method comprising assembling a column having a stationary phase comprising an inorganic material; priming the column with the isotope parents to immobilize 225Ac, and natural decay products of 225AC; immobilizing the 225Ac, and natural decay products therefrom onto the stationary phase within the column 226Ra, 225Ra, 224Ra; and eluting the column containing the 225AC to obtain an effluent that contains the isotope parents.

First claim

1 . A method for periodically obtaining 225 AC from 225 Ra, the method comprising:
a) assembling a column having a stationary phase comprising an inorganic material; b) priming the column to immobilize 226 Ra, 225 Ra, 224 Ra, and natural decay products therefrom; c) immobilizing the 226 Ra, 225 Ra, 224 Ra, and natural decay products therefrom onto the stationary phase within the column; and d) eluting the column containing the 226 Ra, 225 Ra, 224 Ra with an aqueous sulfate solution to obtain a milking effluent that contains 225 AC.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the priming step further comprises eluting an aqueous solution containing free hydroxide ions until the effluent of the column is basic.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the immobilizing step further comprises:
a) eluting an aqueous solution containing 226 Ra, 225 Ra, 224 Ra, and natural decay products therefrom through the column;
b) eluting a dilute solution of H 2 SO 4 through the column; and
c) eluting water through the column until the effluent is neutral pH.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the 226 Ra, 225 Ra, 224 Ra, and natural decay products result from 226 Ra targets that have been irradiated with bremsstrahlung photons.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the bremsstrahlung photons are generated from a LINAC.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating step d) once a week.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising removing 226 Ra immobilized on the column.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the removing step further comprises:
a) contacting the column with a solution of saturated Na 2 CO 3 ; and
b) contacting the column with a solution of HNO 3 .

9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising separating the 226 Ac from its natural decay products in the milking effluent.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the separating step further comprises eluting the milking effluent through an anion exchange column.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the anion exchange column contains AG MP-1 stationary phase.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic material is selected from a group consisting of alumina, titanates, niobates, zirconates, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the 226 Ra, 225 Ra, and 224 Raimmobilized on the column in step c) remains on the column after step d).

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method produces between 100 and 1000 mci of 225 AC per week.

15 . A method for obtaining 225 AC from its isotope parents, the method comprising:
a) assembling a column having a stationary phase comprising an inorganic material; b) priming the column with the isotope parents; c) immobilizing the 225 AC, and natural decay products therefrom onto the stationary phase within the column; and d) eluting the column containing the 225 AC to obtain an effluent that contains the isotope parents.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the priming step further comprises eluting an aqueous solution containing free hydroxide ions until the effluent of the column is basic.

17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the immobilizing step further comprises:
a) eluting an aqueous solution containing 226 Ra, 225 Ra, 224 Ra, and natural decay products therefrom through the column;
b) eluting a dilute solution of H 2 SO 4 through the column; and
c) eluting water through the column until the effluent has neutral pH.

18 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the eluting step comprises contacting the column with a mineral acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, and combinations thereof.

19 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the 225 AC, immobilized on the column remains on the column after step d).

20 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the inorganic material is a compound selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconate, titanate, niobate, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Brown Michael A
• Gelis Artem
• Rotsch David
• Nolen Jr Jerry A
• Youker Amanda J

Classifications

• G21G1/001 Primary

  Recovery of specific isotopes from irradiated targets · CPC title

• G21G2001/0089

  Actinium · CPC title

• G21G1/0005

  Isotope delivery systems (use of radioisotopes as tracers G21H5/02) · CPC title

• G21G1/12 Primary

  by electromagnetic irradiation, e.g. with gamma or X-rays (applications of radiation G21H5/00; irradiation devices G21K5/00) · CPC title

• G21K5/08

  Holders for targets or for other objects to be irradiated · CPC title