Methods of producing cesium-131
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsDavid H. Meikrantz, John R. Snyder
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Abstract
Methods of producing cesium-131. The method comprises dissolving at least one non-irradiated barium source in water or a nitric acid solution to produce a barium target solution. The barium target solution is irradiated with neutron radiation to produce cesium-131, which is removed from the barium target solution. The cesium-131 is complexed with a calixarene compound to separate the cesium-131 from the barium target solution. A liquid:liquid extraction device or extraction column is used to separate the cesium-131 from the barium target solution.
Claims19
A method of producing cesium-131, comprising:
- dissolving at least one non-irradiated barium source in water or a nitric acid solution to produce a barium target solution;
- subjecting the barium target solution to neutron radiation to produce cesium-131;
- and
- removing the cesium-131 from the barium target solution.
A method of producing cesium-131, comprising:
- irradiating a barium target solution comprising nitric acid and at least one non-irradiated barium-130 compound to produce cesium-131;
- complexing the cesium-131 with a calixarene compound;
- and
- separating the cesium-131 from the irradiated barium target solution.
A method of producing cesium-131, comprising:
- irradiating a target solution comprising barium and nitric acid to produce an irradiated barium target solution;
- enabling the irradiated barium target solution to decay for an amount of time sufficient to produce cesium-131;
- and
- continuously separating the cesium-131 from the irradiated barium target solution.
A method of producing cesium-131, comprising:
- dissolving at least one non-irradiated barium source in nitric acid to produce a barium target solution;
- irradiating the barium target solution in a nuclear reactor to produce cesium-131;
- and
- flowing the irradiated barium target solution through at least one separation device to remove the cesium-131.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.