Preparation of americium targets for nuclear chemistry experiments at DANCE

Abstract

Using 1 gram of ²⁴¹Am from LANL stocks, the purification steps required to obtain a solution of ²⁴¹Am from the original material are described. Part of the purified solution was submitted for purity analysis by mass spectrometry, radiochemistry and trace metals analysis. The impurities were expected to be ²³⁹Pu and ²³⁷Np. A second fraction of this material was used for electroplating three samples onto titanium disks that were suitable for insertion into an instrument package to be placed into the DANCE detector. The purification methods used, the electroplating setup and the solutions to various problems that were encountered in making these targets are discussed. The analytical results are discussed as well as the yields from the electrodeposition process. Comparison of these yields with those from similar experiments utilizing ²³⁵U and ²⁴³Am are also discussed.