Abstract
A method for the production and purification of polonium from an irradiated bismuth target that minimizes processing time, cost, and generation of radioactive wastes, and increases recovery yield, is proposed. Production is done through two approaches: using a 37-MeV alpha particle beam to produce 210Po, and using a deuteron beam of 16-MeV to produce 210Po, 209Po and 208Po. Separation is performed using TBP-resin, and batch studies were performed to optimize conditions. Bismuth is separated with 7 M HCl, and polonium is successfully retained on the TBP resin. Polonium was recovered using 8 M HNO3 with a 99% yield.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Accelerator for Research in Radiochemistry and Oncology at Nantes Atlantique (ARRONAX), Laboratory of Subatomic Physics and related Technologies (Subatech), and the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) for their support.
Funding
The cyclotron ARRONAX is supported by the European Union. This work has been, in part, supported by a Grant from the French National Agency for Research called “Investissements d’Avenir”, Equipex Arronax-Plus No. ANR-11-EQPX-0004, Labex IRON No. ANR-11-LABX-18-01 and ISITE NEXT No. ANR-16-IDEX-0007.
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Younes, A., Alliot, C., Ali, J.S. et al. Production of polonium from bismuth and purification using TBP resin and Sr resin. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324, 823–828 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07109-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07109-5