Production of isotopes using high power proton beams
AssigneeUchicago Argonne, LLC
InventorsJerry A. Nolen, JR., Itacil C. Gomes
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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 225Ac is produced via the nuclear reaction (p,2p6n),whereby an energetic proton causes the ejection of 2 protons and 6 neutrons from a 232Th target nucleus. Another medically important isotope 213Bi is then available as a decay product. The production of highly purified 211At is also provided.
Claims7
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.