Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Feasibility study of Promethium-147 production as an industrial radionuclide through neutron irradiation of neodymium in Tehran Research Reactor (TRR)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S.E. Hoseini 1
M. Ghannadi Maragheh 1
A. Bahrami Samani 1
S. Shirvani Arani 2
H. Salehi 1

1 Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran – Iran

2 Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran – Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2020.1092
Abstract
Promethium is one of the rare earth elements of Lanthanides. This element is no found on the earth’s crust. All  its isotopes are radioactive. The isotope 147Pm is a pure beta emitter and very useful in industry because of its radioactive specifications. To name its applications one can point to usage as beta source in nuclear gauges, self-luminary lamps and nuclear batteries. This radioisotope produces via two methods, one from extraction of fission products waste and the second from thermal neutron irradiation of 146Nd. In this research, natural neodymium was irradiated in Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) and the gamma and beta spectrums were obtained. In addition, theoretical calculations were done. In this way, acceptable consistency in the results was obtained and the activity and radioactivity of the products were compared

Highlights

 
1.              World nuclear association, Radioisotope in industry, U.S atomic energy commission, Division of technical information. http://www.world-nuclear.org.
2.              R.S. Copper, R.A. Andelin, R.K. Robinson, Development of high-temperature isotope 147Pm heat source, Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc., 10, 453 (1969).
3.              L.C. Olsen, Betavoltaic energy conversation, Donald W. Douglas Laboratories, Richland, Washington 99352, U.S.A. Energy Conversion 13, 117–127 (1973).
4.              R.A. English, et al., Apollo experience report-protection against radiation, NASA Technical note No. TN D-7080 (March 1973).
5.              IAEA, Manual On Nuclear Gauges, (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 1996).
6.              Jr. Knapp, et al., U.S. Patent No: US 7435399 B2 (14 October, 2008).
7.              J.H. Hinderer, M.Sc. thesis, University of Tennessee, (2010).
8.              Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF), https://www-nds.iaea.org.
9.              R.B. Firestone, V.S. Shirley, Table of Isotopes, (U. S. Department of energy, 1996).
10.           S. Heinitz, et al. Production, separation and target preparation of 171Tm and 147Pm for neutron cross section measurements. Radiochim. Acta. 105(10), 801-811(2017).

Keywords

Promethium-147
Neodymium
Radioisotope production
Tehran Research Reactor
 
1.              World nuclear association, Radioisotope in industry, U.S atomic energy commission, Division of technical information. http://www.world-nuclear.org.
2.              R.S. Copper, R.A. Andelin, R.K. Robinson, Development of high-temperature isotope 147Pm heat source, Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc., 10, 453 (1969).
3.              L.C. Olsen, Betavoltaic energy conversation, Donald W. Douglas Laboratories, Richland, Washington 99352, U.S.A. Energy Conversion 13, 117–127 (1973).
4.              R.A. English, et al., Apollo experience report-protection against radiation, NASA Technical note No. TN D-7080 (March 1973).
5.              IAEA, Manual On Nuclear Gauges, (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 1996).
6.              Jr. Knapp, et al., U.S. Patent No: US 7435399 B2 (14 October, 2008).
7.              J.H. Hinderer, M.Sc. thesis, University of Tennessee, (2010).
8.              Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF), https://www-nds.iaea.org.
9.              R.B. Firestone, V.S. Shirley, Table of Isotopes, (U. S. Department of energy, 1996).
10.           S. Heinitz, et al. Production, separation and target preparation of 171Tm and 147Pm for neutron cross section measurements. Radiochim. Acta. 105(10), 801-811(2017).

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