Ac-225 production via the ra-226 (n, 2n) reaction
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsEugene T. Hayes, Michael D. Heibel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides various methods, systems, and devices for producing actinium-225 (Ac-225). In one aspect of the disclosure, a method for producing Ac-225 includes inserting an irradiation target assembly into a commercial nuclear reactor. The irradiation target assembly comprises a radium-226 (Ra-226) material. The method further includes producing electricity using the commercial nuclear reactor by generating a neutron flux in the commercial nuclear reactor. The method further includes irradiating the Ra-226 material with the neutron flux generated in the in the commercial nuclear reactor to produce a radium-225 (Ra-225) material. The Ra-225 material decays to produce an Ac-225 material.
Claims20
A method for producing Ac-225 using a thermal nuclear reactor, the method comprising:
- inserting an irradiation target assembly into a core of the thermal nuclear reactor, wherein the irradiation target assembly comprises Ra-226 isotopes;
- generating a neutron flux in the core of the thermal nuclear reactor to produce electrical power, wherein the neutron flux comprises thermal neutrons and fast neutrons;
- and
- producing Ra-225 isotopes from a portion of the Ra-226 isotopes via a Ra-226 (n, 2n) reaction based on exposing the irradiation target to the neutron flux, wherein the Ra-225 isotopes decay to produce Ac-225 isotopes.
A method for producing Ac-225 using a commercial nuclear reactor, the method comprising:
- inserting an irradiation target assembly into the commercial nuclear reactor, wherein the irradiation target assembly comprises a Ra-226 material;
- producing electricity using the commercial nuclear reactor by generating a neutron flux in the commercial nuclear reactor;
- and
- irradiating the Ra-226 material with the neutron flux generated in the commercial nuclear reactor to produce a Ra-225 material, wherein the Ra-225 material decays to produce an Ac-225 material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.