Production of isotopes using high power proton beams
AssigneeUchicago Argonne, LLC
InventorsJerry A. Nolen, Jr., Itacil C. Gomes
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Abstract
The invention provides for a method for producing isotopes using a beam of particles from an accelerator, whereby the beam is maintained at between about 70 to 2000 MeV; and contacting a thorium-containing target with the particles. The medically important isotope 225Ac is produced via the nuclear reaction (p,2p6n), whereby an energetic proton causes the ejection of 2 protons and 6 neutrons from a 232Th target nucleus. Another medically important isotope 213Bi is then available as a decay product. The production of highly purified 211At is also provided.
Claims14
A method for producing 225Ac using an accelerator, the method comprising
- a. producing a beam of particles along an axis, whereby the beam is maintained at between about 70 and 8000 MeV;
- b. impinging the particles on a plurality of target sheets, each target sheet containing 232Th, wherein each of said plurality of target sheets is arranged such that surfaces of each of said plurality of target sheets is spaced apart and approximately parallel to each other, and the surfaces are arranged at an angle greater than 0 and less than 10 degrees relative to the beam's axis;
- and
- c. producing approximately 10 Ci of 225Ac per 100 grams of 232Th in the plurality of target sheets during each day of irradiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.