Large-scale purification of 90Sr from nuclear waste materials for production of 90Y, a therapeutic medical radioisotope.
A major limitation on the supply of the short-lived medical isotope 90Y (t1/2 = 64 h) is the available quantity of highly purified 90Sr generator material. A radiochemical production campaign was therefore undertaken to purify 1,500 Ci of 90Sr that had been isolated from fission waste materials. A series of alkaline precipitation steps removed all detectable traces of 137Cs, alpha emitters, and uranium and transuranic elements. Technical obstacles such as the buildup of gas pressure generated upon mixing large quantities of acid with solid 90Sr carbonate were overcome through safety features incorporated into the custom-built equipment used for 90Sr purification. Methods are described for analyzing the chemical and radiochemical purity of the final product and for accurately determining by gravimetry the quantities of 90Sr immobilized on stainless steel filters for future use.
Wester
Dennis W
DW
Radiochemical Science and Engineering Group, Environmental Technology Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
Steele
Richard T
RT
Rinehart
Donald E
DE
DesChane
Jaquetta R
JR
Carson
Katharine J
KJ
Rapko
Brian M
BM
Tenforde
Thomas S
TS
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes