# US 5,711,016 A · Process for the conditioning of radioactive iodine, particularly iodine 129, using an apatite as the confinement matrix

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- Number: US 5,711,016 A
- Document ID: US5711016A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/682,792
- Filed: 1996-10-24
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1994-12-07
- Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
- Inventors: Joelle Carpena; Fabienne Audubert; Jean-Louis Lacout
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5711016A

## CPC

- G21F 9/02: Treating gases
- G21F 9/302: {in an inorganic matrix}
- G21F 9/34: Disposal of solid waste
- G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)

## Abstract

The invention relates to the conditioning or packaging of radioactive iodine, particularly iodine 129, using an apatite as the confinement matrix. Having the iodine, said apatite corresponds to the formula: M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x I.sub.2 (I) in which M represents Cd or Pb, X represents V or As, I is the radioactive iodine to be conditioned and x is such that 0.ltoreq.x<1. This iodoapatite (1) can be surrounded by an apatite (3) not containing iodine serving as a physical barrier. The iodoapatite can be obtained from a solid compound of the iodine, e.g. an iodide such as silver iodide or lead iodide, by reaction with a compound of formula: M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x (II) or M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x Y.sub.2 (III) in which M, X and x are as defined hereinbefore and Y can represent OH, F, Cl or O.sub.1/2.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Block for conditioning radioactive iodine, characterized in that it comprises an iodoapatite of formula:
M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x I.sub.2 (I)
in which M represents Cd or Pb, X represents V or As, I is the radioactive iodine to be conditioned and x is such that 0.ltoreq.x<1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Block according to claim 1, characterized in that the iodoapatite containing the radioactive iodine to be conditioned is surrounded by one or more layers of apatite not containing iodine.

### Claim 3

Block for conditioning radioactive iodine in the form of a solid, iodine-containing compound, characterized in that it comprises a core formed by said iodine-containing compound, surrounded by a first compacted powder layer of a compound complying with one of the formulas:
M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x (II)
or
M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x Y.sub.2 (III)
in which M represents Cd or Pb, X represents V or As, Y represents OH, F, Cl or O.sub.1/2 and x is such that 0.ltoreq.x<1, and a second outer layer of non-iodine-containing apatite.

### Claim 4

Block for conditioning radioactive iodine in the form of a solid, iodine-containing compound, characterized in that it comprises granules of said iodine-containing compound covered with a layer of a compound complying with one of the formulas:
M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x (II)
or
M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x Y.sub.2 (III)
in which M represents Cd or Pb, X represents V or As, Y represents OH, F, Cl or O.sub.1/2 and x is such that 0.ltoreq.x<1, the coated granules being dispersed in a matrix of apatite not containing iodine.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

Block according to claim 3, characterized in that the compound of formula (M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x is Pb.sub.3 (VO.sub.4).sub.2.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Block according to claim 1, characterized in that x is such that 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.75.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

Block according to claim 2, characterized in that the apatite not containing iodine is chosen from among phosphocalcium fluoapatites and phosphosilicate fluoapatites.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

Block according to claim 3, characterized in that the iodine-containing compound is AgI or PbI.sub.2.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Block according to claim 1, characterized in that the radioactive iodine is iodine 129.

### Claim 10

Process for the conditioning of the radioactive iodine present in the form of a solid, iodine-containing compound, characterized in that it consists of reacting the iodine-containing compound with a solid compound of formula:
M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x (II)
in which M represents Cd or Pb, X represents V or As and x is such that 0.ltoreq.x<1, also in the solid state, at a temperature of 500.degree. to 800.degree. C.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

Process according to claim 10, characterized in that the iodine-containing compound is AgI or PbI.sub.2.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

Process for the production of a radioactive iodine conditioning block according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of subjecting to a pressurized sintering the core of the block and the layer of the compound of formula M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x or M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x Y.sub.2, surrounding everything with the non-iodine-containing apatite powder forming the outer layer and subjecting the sintered assembly and the outer layer to a pressurized sintering.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

Process for the production of a radioactive iodine conditioning block according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of subjecting to a compression under a pressure of at least 1 MPa the assembly formed by the iodine-containing compound, surrounded by the first layer of compound of formula (II) or (III) and the outer layer of non-iodine-containing apatite and then subjecting everything to pressurized sintering.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

Process according to claim 12, characterized in that sintering is performed at a temperature of 500.degree. to 800.degree. C., under a pressure of 20 to 200 MPa and for 1 to 3 h.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

Block according to claim 4, characterized in that the compound of formula M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x is Pb.sub.3 (VO.sub.4).sub.2.

### Claim 16 (depends on 3)

Block according to claim 3, characterized in that x is such that 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.75.

### Claim 17 (depends on 4)

Block according to claim 4, characterized in that x is such that 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.75.

### Claim 18 (depends on 3)

Block according to claim 3, characterized in that the non-iodine-containing apatite is chosen from among phosphocalcium fluoapatites and phosphosilicate fluoapatites.

### Claim 19 (depends on 4)

Block according to claim 4, characterized in that the non-iodine-containing apatite is chosen from among phosphocalcium fluoapatites and phosphosilicate fluoapatites.

### Claim 20 (depends on 4)

Block according to claim 4, characterized in that the iodine-containing compound is AgI or PbI.sub.2.

### Claim 21 (depends on 3)

Block according to claim 3, characterized in that the radioactive iodine is iodine 129.

### Claim 22 (depends on 4)

Block according to claim 4, characterized in that the radioactive iodine is iodine 129.

### Claim 23 (depends on 4)

Process for the production of a radioactive iodine conditioning block according to claim 4, characterized in that it consists of subjecting a pressurized sintering the granules iodine-containing compound and the layer of the compound of formula M.sub.3 (XO.sub.4).sub.2-2x (PO.sub.4).sub.2x or M.sub.10 (XO.sub.4).sub.6-6x (PO.sub.4).sub.6x Y.sub.2, surrounding everything with the non-iodine-containing apatite powder forming the outer layer and subjecting the sintered assembly and the outer layer to pressurized sintering.

### Claim 24 (depends on 4)

Process for the production of a radioactive iodine conditioning block according to claim 4, characterized in that it consists of subjecting to compression under a pressure of at least 1 MPa the assembly formed by the granules of iodine-containing compound surrounded by the first layer of compound of formula (II) or (III) and the outer, non-iodine-containing apatite layer, then subjecting everything to pressurized sintering.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

Process according to claim 23, characterized in that sintering is performed at a temperature of 500.degree. to 800.degree. C. under a pressure of 20 to 200 MPa and for 1 to 3 h.