Process for producing ultra-pure plutonium-238
AssigneeHaselwood Enterprises, Inc.
InventorJohn E. Jones, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing ultra-pure Pu-238 is provided. The method comprises the steps of short-term irradiating Am-241 targets with a high, thermal neutron flux greater than 6.5×1014 neutrons cm−2 s−1 and more preferably greater than 1×1015 neutrons cm−2 s−1 for a predetermined period of time preferably from 20 days to 30 days and more preferably approximately 25 days to convert a substantial fraction of the Am-241 to Cm-242, e.g., approximately 0.555 g of Cm-242 per g of Am-241 charged, thereafter promptly chemically separating the produced Cm-242, preferably within 10 days to 20 days of the irradiation cycle of the Am-241 targets and more preferably within about 15 days of the irradiation cycle of the Am-241 targets, and recovering the ultra-pure Pu-238 decay product of the separated Cm-242.
Claims9
A method for producing ultra-pure Pu-238 comprising the steps of:
- a) irradiating Am-241 at a high thermal neutron flux for a predetermined time and neutron flux sufficient to produce a value within the range of 0.333 to 0.666 g Cm-242 per g of Am-241 charged;
- b) promptly chemically separating the produced Cm-242;
- and
- c) thereafter recovering the ultra-pure Pu-238 decay product.
A method for producing ultra-pure Pu-238 comprising the steps of:
- a) irradiating Am-241 at a high thermal neutron flux of about 1.0×1015 neutrons cm−2 s−1 and a time of about 25 days to produce a value of about 0.555 g of Cm-242 per g Am-241 charged;
- b) chemically separating the produced Cm-242 within approximately 15 days of said irradiation cycle;
- and
- c) thereafter recovering the ultra-pure Pu-238 decay product of Cm-242.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.