Process for separation of zirconium-88, rubidium-83 and yttrium-88

A process for selective separation of rubidium-83 from proton irradiated molybdenum targets comprising:

• dissolving a proton irradiated molybdenum target in a hydrogen peroxide solution to form a first ion-containing solution;
• contacting the first ion-containing solution with a first cationic exchange resin whereby ions selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, niobium, technetium, selenium, vanadium, arsenic, germanium, zirconium and rubidium remain in the first ion-containing solution while ions selected from the group consisting of rubidium, zinc, beryllium, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, strontium, yttrium and zirconium are selectively adsorbed by the first cationic exchange resin;
• contacting the first cationic exchange resin with an acid solution capable of stripping adsorbed ions from the first cationic exchange resin whereby the adsorbed ions are removed from the first cationic exchange resin to form a second ion-containing solution;
• evaporating the second ion-containing solution for time sufficient to remove substantially all of the acid and water from the second ion-containing solution whereby a residue remains;
• dissolving the residue from the evaporated second-ion containing solution in a dilute acid to form a third ion-containing solution, said third ion-containing solution having an acid molarity adapted to permit said ions to be adsorbed by a cationic exchange resin;
• contacting the third ion-containing solution with a second cationic exchange resin whereby the ions are adsorbed by the second cationic exchange resin;
• contacting the second cationic exchange resin with a dilute sulfuric acid solution whereby the adsorbed ions selected from the group consisting of rubidium, zinc, beryllium, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, and zirconium are selectively removed from the second cationic exchange resin to form a fourth ion-containing solution;
• adjusting the acid molarity of the fourth ion-containing solution to within a range whereat an anionic exchange resin is capable of adsorbing said ions;
• contacting the fourth ion-containing solution with an anionic exchange resin whereby the zirconium and niobium ions are adsorbed by the anionic exchange resin and a fifth ion-containing solution is formed;
• contacting the fifth ion-containing solution with a third cationic exchange resin whereby the ions are adsorbed by the third cationic exchange resin;
• and,
• contacting the third cationic exchange resin with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution whereby the adsorbed rubidium-83 ions are selectively removed from the third cationic exchange resin.

A process for selective separation of yttrium-88 from proton irradiated molybdenum targets comprising:

• dissolving a proton irradiated molybdenum target in a hydrogen peroxide solution to form a first ion-containing solution;
• contacting the first ion-containing solution with a first cationic exchange resin whereby ions selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, niobium, technetium, selenium, vanadium, arsenic, germanium, zirconium and rubidium remain in the first ion-containing solution while ions selected from the group consisting of rubidium, zinc, beryllium, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, strontium, yttrium and zirconium are selectively adsorbed by the first cationic exchange resin;
• contacting the first cationic exchange resin with an acid solution capable of stripping adsorbed ions from the first cationic exchange resin whereby the adsorbed ions are removed from the first cationic exchange resin to form a second ion-containing solution;
• evaporating the second ion-containing solution for time sufficient to remove substantially all of the acid and water from the second ion-containing solution whereby a residue remains;
• dissolving the residue from the evaporated second-ion containing solution in a dilute acid to form a third ion-containing solution, said third ion-containing solution having an acid molarity adapted to permit said ions to be adsorbed by a cationic exchange resin;
• contacting the third ion-containing solution with a second cationic exchange resin whereby the ions are adsorbed by the second cationic exchange resin;
• contacting the second cationic exchange resin with a dilute sulfuric acid solution whereby the adsorbed ions selected from the group consisting of rubidium, zinc, beryllium, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, and zirconium are selectively removed from the second cationic exchange resin to form a fourth ion-containing solution;
• adjusting the acid molarity Of the fourth ion-containing solution to within a range whereat an anionic exchange resin is capable of adsorbing zirconium ions and niobium ions;
• contacting the fourth ion-containing solution with an anionic exchange resin whereby zirconium and niobium are adsorbed by the anionic exchange resin while the remainder of the ions remain in solution;
• contacting the anionic resin with an acid solution capable of stripping zirconium from the anionic exchange resin whereby the adsorbed zirconium ions are selectively removed as a fifth ion-containing solution;
• maintaining said fifth ion-containing solution for time sufficient to allow formation of yttrium-88 by radioactive decay of zirconium-88;
• adjusting the acid molarity of the fifth ion-containing solution to within a range whereat an cationic exchange resin is capable of adsorbing yttrium ions;
• contacting the fifth ion-containing solution with a third cationic exchange resin whereby the yttrium ions are adsorbed by the third cationic exchange resin;
• and,
• recovering said yttrium-88 ions from said resin.