Process for the separation of carrier-free radio-nuclides from target liquids, the use of the process and an arrangement suitable therefor

A process for separating a carrier-free radionuclide from a liquid or liquefiable target material containing a radionuclide and having reduced electrical conductivity which results from a nuclear process, in ionizable or polarizable form, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing a permanent electrode arrangement in a flow cell which comprises:
• (1) a vitreous carbon cylinder as an outer
• (2) a counter electrode in the form of a platinum capillary within said vitreous carbon cylinder and extending over an entire length of the cylinder which terminates via a flat cone in a capillary spaced from a valve and at its upper end in a cap closing the cylinder and holding the counterelectrode with an inert gas-connecting fitting and a pressure equalization opening;
• (b) feeding the liquid or liquefiable target material containing the radionuclide to the flow cell through the platinum capillary in the counterelectrode;
• (c) applying an electrical field to the liquid or liquefiable target material for electrofixing the radionuclide on one of the electrodes;
• (d) following step (c), separating the liquid or liquefied target material from the radionuclide by removing the liquid or liquefied target material from the flow cell while maintaining a fixing voltage in said flow cell;
• and
• (e) forming a solution of the carrier-free radionuclide separated according to step (d) with a shut-off field or in a field of opposite poling.