• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.543-549
• /
• 2023

Thallium-201 (²⁰¹Tl) is a medical radioisotope which emits gamma rays when it decays and used in myocardial perfusion scans in single-photon emission tomography due to its similar properties to potassium. Currently, the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences is the only institution producing ²⁰¹Tl in Korea, and optimization of ²⁰¹Tl production research is necessary to meet supply compared to domestic demand. To this end, technical analysis of plating target production and chemical separation methods essential for ²⁰¹Tl production research is conducted. It deals with the process of generating and separating ²⁰¹Tl radioisotope and target production, It can be generated through a nuclear reaction such as ^natHg(p,xn)²⁰¹Tl, ²⁰¹Hg(p,n)²⁰¹Tl, ^natPb(p,xn)²⁰¹Bi → ²⁰¹Pb → ²⁰¹Tl, ²⁰⁵Tl(p,5n)²⁰¹Pb → ²⁰¹Tl, and considering impure nuclide generated simultaneously with the use of proton beam energy of 35 MeV or less, it is intended to be produced using the ²⁰³Tl(p,3n)²⁰¹Pb→²⁰¹Tl nuclear reaction. In particular, the chemical separation of Tl is a very important element, and the chemical separation methods that can separate it is broadly divided into four types, including solid phase extraction, liquid-liquid, electrochemical, and ion exchange membrane separation. Some chemical separations require additional separation steps, such as methods using selective adsorption. Therefore, this technical report describes four chemical separation methods and seeks to separate high-purity ²⁰¹Tl using a method without additional separation steps

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.8
• /
• pp.3017-3026
• /
• 2022

The ¹³¹Cs radioisotope with a short half-life time and high average radiation energy can treat the cancer effectively in prostate brachytherapy. The typical ¹³¹Cs production processes have a separation step of the cesium from ¹³¹Ba to obtain a high specific radioactivity. Herein, we suggested a novel ¹³¹Cs separation method based on the Ba²⁺ adsorption of alginate beads. It is necessary to reduce the affinity of alginate beads to cesium ions for a high production yield. The carboxyl group of the alginate beads was replaced by a sulfonate group to reduce the cesium affinity while reinforcing their affinity to barium ions. The modified beads exhibited superior Ba²⁺ adsorption performances to native beads. In the fixed-bed column tests, the saturation time and adsorption capacity could be estimated with the Yoon-Nelson model in various injection flow rates and initial concentrations. In terms of the Cs elution, the modified alginate showed better performance (i.e., an elution over 88%) than the native alginate (i.e., an elution below 10%), indicating that the functional group modification was effective in reducing the affinity to cesium ions. Therefore, the separation of cesium from the barium using the modified alginate is expected to be an additional option to produce ¹³¹Cs.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2021

No-carrier-added holmium-166 (n.c.a ¹⁶⁶Ho) separation is performed based on the results of separation conditions using stable isotopes dysprosium (Dy) and holmium (Ho) to minimize radioactive waste from separation optimization procedures. Successful separation of two adjacent lanthanides was achieved by cation-exchange chromatography using a sulfonated resin in the H+ form (BP-800) and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (α-HIBA) as eluent. For the identification process after separation of stable isotopes, the use of chromogenic reagents alternatively enables on-line detection because the lanthanides are hardly absorb light in the UV-vis region or exhibit radioactivity. Four different chromogenic reagents were pre-tested to evaluate suitable coloring reagents, of which 4-(2-Pyridylazo)resorcinol is the most recommendable considering the sensitivity and specificity for lanthanides. Lanthanide radioisotopes (RI) were monitored for separation with an RI detector using a lab-made separation LC system. Under the proper separation conditions, the n.c.a ¹⁶⁶Ho was effectively obtained from a large amount of 100 mg dysprosium target within 2 hrs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.7
• /
• pp.1517-1523
• /
• 2020

The widely used medical isotope technetium-99 m (^99mTc) is a daughter of Molybdenum-99 (⁹⁹Mo), which is mainly produced using dedicated research reactors from the nuclear fission of uranium-235 (²³⁵U). ^99mTc has been used for several decades, which covers about 80% of the all the nuclear diagnostics procedures. Recently, the instability of the supply has become an important topic throughout the international radioisotope communities. The aging of major ⁹⁹Mo production reactors has also caused frequent shutdowns. It has triggered movements to establish new research reactors for ⁹⁹Mo production, as well as the development of various ⁹⁹Mo production technologies. In this context, a new research reactor project was launched in 2012 in Korea. At the same time, the development of fission-based ⁹⁹Mo production process was initiated by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in 2012 in order to be implemented by the new research reactor. The KAERI process is based on the caustic dissolution of plate-type LEU (low enriched uranium) dispersion targets, followed by the separation and purification using a series of columns. The development of proper waste treatment technologies for the gaseous, liquid, and solid radioactive wastes also took place. The first stage of this process development was completed in 2018. In this paper, the results of the hot test production of fission ⁹⁹Mo using HANARO, KAERI's 30 MW research reactor, was described.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.3291-3300
• /
• 2023

Recently molybdenum alloys have been introduced as accident tolerating materials for cladding of fuel rods. Molybdenum element has seven stable isotopes with different neutron absorption cross section used in various fields, including nuclear physics and radioisotope production. This study presents separation approaches for all intermediate isotopes of molybdenum element by squared-off cascades using a newly developed numerical code with Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) optimization algorithm. The parameters of cascade including feed flow rate, feed entry stage, cascade cut, input feed flow rate to gas centrifuges (GCs), and cut of the first stage are optimized to maximize both isotope recovery and cascade capacity. The squared off and squared cascades are studied, and the efficiencies are compared. The results obtained from the optimization showed that for the selected squared off cascade, Mo⁹⁴ in four separation steps, Mo⁹⁵ in five steps, Mo⁹⁶ in six steps, Mo⁹⁷ in seven steps, and Mo⁹⁸ in two steps are separated to the desired concentrations. The highest recovery factor is obtained 63% for Mo⁹⁴ separation and lowest recovery factor is found 45% for Mo⁹⁵.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.84-95
• /
• 2016

Considerably increasing interest in using the theranostic isotopes/ isotope pairs of radiometals like $^{44/47}Sc$ and $^{64/67}Cu$ for diagnosis and/or therapeutic applications in the nuclear medicine procedures necessitates its reliable production and supply. Separation and purification of no-carrier-added (NCA) isotopes from macro quantitates of the irradiated target matrix along with other impurities is a cardinal procedure amongst several other steps involved in its production. Multitudinous methods including but not limited to liquid-liquid (solvent) extraction, extraction chromatography (EXC), ion exchange, electrodeposition and sublimation are routinely applied either solitarily or in combination for the separation and purification of radioisotopes depending on their production routes, radioisotope of interest and impurities involved. However, application of EXC though has shown promises towards the numerous separation techniques have not received much attention as far as its application prospects in the field of nuclear medicine are concerned. Advances in the recent past for application of the EXC resins in separation and purification of the several medically important radioisotopes at ultra-high purity have shown promising behavior with respect to their operation simplicity, acidic and radiolytic stability, separation efficiencies and speedy procedures with the enhanced and excellent extraction abilities. In this mini review we will be talking about the recent developments in the application and the use of EXC techniques for the separation and purification of $^{44/47}Sc$ and $^{64/67}Cu$ for medical applications. Furthermore, we will also discuss the scientific and practical aspects of EXC in the view of separation of the NCA trace amount of radionuclides.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2010

As part of a fundamental study on the volume reduction of contaminated concrete wastes, the separation characteristics of the aggregates and the distribution of the radioactivity in the aggregates were investigated. Radioisotope $^{60}Co$ was artificially used as a model contaminant for non-radioactive crushed concrete waste. Volume reduction for radioactively contaminated dismantled concrete wastes was carried out using activated heavy weight concrete taken from the Korea Research Reactor 2 (KRR-2) and light weight concrete from the Uranium Conversion Plant (UCP). The results showed that most of the $^{60}Co$ nuclide was easily separated from the contaminated dismantled concrete waste and was concentrated mainly in the porous fine cement paste. The heating temperature was found to be one of the effective parameters in the removal of the radionuclide from concrete waste. The volume reduction rate achieved was above 80% for the KRR-2 concrete wastes and above 75% for the UCP concrete wastes by thermal and mechanical treatment.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.191-195
• /
• 2000

Quantitation of N7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG) produced in the in vitro N-methly-N-nitrosuourea (NMU) action on thymus DNA has been achieved by enzymatic degradation, liquid chromatoraphic separaphic separation and desorption chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry. In conjunction with the resolving power HPLC in the separation of isomers, desorprion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry has utilized in determining modified nucleosides at low levels using a stable-isotope labled compound as an internal reforence. The quantitative estimation of N7-methyldeoxyguanosine was previously established by an independent HPLC analysis of methylated calf thymus DNA. A sensitive and specific methodogy for the quantitation of N7-MedG at the picomole level using HPLC combined with tandem mass spectrometry without radioisotope labeling process is presented. The potential of the liquid chromatoraphic tandem mass exposure to methlation agents in vitro.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2015

In this paper, production of $^{166}Ho$ by double neutron capture from HANARO research reactor was evaluated. This production approach provides $^{166}Ho$ with high specific activity. $^{164}Dy$ is transmuted into $^{165g+m}Dy$ by (n,${\gamma}$) reaction, then $^{165g+m}Dy$ is transmuted into $^{166}Dy$ by (n,${\gamma}$) reaction. At the end of neutron irradiation, population of $^{166}Dy$ atoms reaches highest point. And $^{164}Dy$ exists as a mixture with $^{165m}Dy$, $^{165}Dy$, $^{166}Ho$ and $^{165}Ho$ at this point. To obtain $^{166}Ho$ with high specific activity, Ho isotopes from irradiated target is separated out. Then $^{166}Ho$ decayed from $^{166}Dy$ is eluted at radioactive equilibrium state. At each step, the number of relevant nuclide is calculated by the state equation. The neutron irradiation time for maximum $^{166}Dy$ is calculated for 283 hour. When 100 mg target of $Dy_2O_3$ (96.8% enriched $^{164}Dy$) is used, possible activity of $^{166}Ho$ is 3.54 Ci($1.31{\times}10^{11}Bq$). For separation efficiency of Dy/Ho is 99.99%, $^{166}Ho/Ho$ is 0.62.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.1378-1389
• /
• 2021

TRIUMF, Canada's particle accelerator centre, is constructing a new high-power ISOL (Isotope Separation On-Line) facility called ARIEL (Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory). Thick porous targets will be bombarded with up to 48 kW of 480 MeV protons from TRIUMF's cyclotron, or up to 100 kW of 30 MeV electrons from a new e-linac, to produce short-lived radioisotopes for a variety of applications, including nuclear astrophysics, fundamental nuclear structure and nuclear medicine. For efficient release of radioisotopes, the targets are heated to temperatures approaching 2000 ℃, and are exposed to GSv/h level radiation fields resulting from intended fissions and spallations. Due to these conditions, the operational life for each target is only about five weeks, calling for frequent remote target exchanges to limit downtime. A few days after irradiation, the targets have a residual radiation field producing a dose rate on the order of 10 Sv/h at 1 m, requiring several years of decay prior to shipment to a national disposal facility. TRIUMF is installing new remote handling infrastructure dedicated to ARIEL, including hot cells and a remote handling crane. The system design applies learnings from multiple existing facilities, including CERN-ISOLDE, GANIL-SPIRAL II as well as TRIUMF's ISAC (Isotope Separator and ACcelerator).