Defining Processing Times for Accelerator Produced 225Ac and Other Isotopes from Proton Irradiated Thorium

Molecules. 2019 Mar 20;24(6):1095. doi: 10.3390/molecules24061095.

Abstract

During the purification of radioisotopes, decay periods or time dependent purification steps may be required to achieve a certain level of radiopurity in the final product. Actinum-225 (Ac-225), Silver-111 (Ag-111), Astatine-211 (At-211), Ruthenium-105 (Ru-105), and Rhodium-105 (Rh-105) are produced in a high energy proton irradiated thorium target. Experimentally measured cross sections, along with MCNP6-generated cross sections, were used to determine the quantities of Ac-225, Ag-111, At-211, Ru-105, Rh-105, and other co-produced radioactive impurities produced in a proton irradiated thorium target at Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP). Ac-225 and Ag-111 can be produced with high radiopurity by the proton irradiation of a thorium target at BLIP.

Keywords: Actinium-225; Isotope production; MCNPX; Silver-111; Sr-82; Thorium; critical process parameter; fission products; proton irradiation.

MeSH terms

  • Actinium / chemistry*
  • Astatine / chemistry
  • Protons
  • Radioisotopes / chemistry
  • Rhodium / chemistry
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Thorium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Astatine-211
  • Protons
  • Radioisotopes
  • Rhodium-105
  • Silver-111
  • Silver
  • Thorium
  • Rhodium
  • Actinium
  • Astatine