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Porous ZrC-carbon microspheres as potential insoluble target matrices for production of 188W/188Re

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Abstract

New microsphere sorbents are reported, which could find application in demanding radiation environments and especially as targets for the production of nuclear medicines by neutron irradiation. An easily-synthesized Zr anionic complex was introduced into quaternary amine-functionalised polystyrene-divinylbenzene-based anion-exchange resins by batch adsorption. Upon carbothermal reduction, the precursors were converted to porous carbon matrices containing particles of ZrC and ZrO2 polymorphs. The most phase-pure material, ZrAX-1, possessed high surface area, multi-scale porosity and high mechanical strength. Adsorption of Re and W was investigated and its possible deployment as a reusable host for the production of 188W/188Re is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Materials and equipment access were provided and/or funded by Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The authors gratefully acknowledge the following ANSTO staff for their contributions: Mr Kerry Cruikshank and Dr Ken Short for ongoing technical support for our tube furnace; Mr Karl Toppler for assistance with mechanical testing equipment; and Mr Joel Davis for SEM data. Mercury Porosimetry data were acquired by Particle & Surface Sciences Pty Ltd, NSW, Australia and O, N microanalysis was conducted by CSIRO Mineral Resources, VIC, Australia; both on a pay-per-sample basis. This research has been conducted with the support of the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Professor Chen acknowledges continuing support from Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia

    Nicholas Scales, Robert D. Aughterson, Inna Karatchevtseva, Attila Stopic & Gregory R. Lumpkin

  2. Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Australian Institute of Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Innovation Campus, North Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Jun Chen

  3. Programa Nacional de Gestión de Residuos Radiactivos, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Av. General, Paz 1499, 1650, San Martin, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Vittorio Luca

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  1. Nicholas Scales
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  2. Jun Chen
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  3. Robert D. Aughterson
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Correspondence to Nicholas Scales.

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Scales, N., Chen, J., Aughterson, R.D. et al. Porous ZrC-carbon microspheres as potential insoluble target matrices for production of 188W/188Re. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318, 835–847 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6059-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6059-y

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