Purification of target material for the production of radio-isotopes

A method for purification of a target material for re-use in the production of radio-isotopes, the method comprising:

• obtaining a solution of irradiated target material, the solution thus comprising at least target material and optionally also radio-isotopes and optionally impurities,
• subsequently,
• adding an acid in a predetermined quantity and concentration and providing conditions for quantitatively dissolving the target material and avoiding co-precipitation of the optionally present radio-isotopes,
• selectively removing H2O from the solution by evaporation, leaving the acid predominantly inside the solution allowing the target material to precipitate while the acid concentration in the solution increases and reducing or avoiding co-precipitation of the optionally present radio-isotopes,
• after removal of the excess H2O, lowering the temperature of the solution to maximize the precipitation of the target material and reduce the solubility of the target material in the remaining liquid,
• separating the liquid containing the optionally present radio-isotopes from the precipitated target material, and
• preparing the precipitated target material for re-use in the production of radio-isotopes,
• wherein the irradiated target material comprises Ra-226 and optionally Ra-225 and Ac-225 and that the acid is HNO3.

A system for the purification of a target material, the system comprising:

• a reactor vessel,
• an inlet for a solution of irradiated target material,
• an inlet for adding acid,
• the reactor vessel comprising evaporation equipment for removing H2O from the solution of irradiated target material leaving the acid predominantly inside the solution allowing the target material to precipitate while the acid concentration in the solution increases and reducing or avoiding co-precipitation of the optionally present radio-isotopes, and
• a filtering means for separating the liquid containing the optionally present radio-isotopes from the precipitated target material.