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

Enrichment of 90Zr by Electromagnetic Isotope sSeparation (EMIS)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

H. Seyedi 1
P. Sarabadani 2
M. Sadeghi 3
S. Rajabifar 4

1 Department of Physics, Payame Noor University, P.O.Box: 19395-3697, Tehran – Iran

2 Physics and Accelerator Research School, Nuclear Sciences and Technology Research Institute, P.O.Box: 31485-498, Karaj – Iran

3 Medical Physics Department, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Postalcode: 14155-6183, Tehran – Iran

4 Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Sciences and Technology Research Institute, P.O.Box: 31485-498, Karaj -Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2020.1146
Abstract
The Electromagnetic Isotopes Separator (EMIS) installed in Karaj, has the capability to separate isotopes in a wide range of elements. Zirconium is successfully separated using this method for the first time in Iran. Zirconium element has five stable isotopes, 90Zr, 91Zr, 92Zr, 94Zr, and 96Zr, and the natural abundance of 90Zr is 51.45%. The 90Zr isotope is used to produce radioisotope 90Nb via 90Zr(p, n) 90Nb  that has a high potential for antibody labeling application in PET as a radionuclide. Copper pockets and graphite front plate were designed and fabricated for separating and collecting of Zr isotopes. After choosing the appropriate composition for the initial material, the electrical parameters of the ion source and electromagnet were determined. The mass spectra of Zirconium isotopes were recorded. Deposited 90Zr isotopes were first extracted from the copper pocket and then purified by electrodeposition and purification methods. The formation of 90ZrO2 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Chemical purity and isotope purification of 90Zr isotope were 99.22% and 99.85%, which measured by TIMS and PIXE method analysis, respectively.

Highlights

1. J.M. Dawson, Isotope separation in plasmas by use of Ion Cyclotron Resonance, Phys. Rev. Lett. 37(23), 1547 (1976).

 

2. H. Schmeing, W.J.L. Buyers, G. Dolling, Isotope Enrichment in Zirconium with a Plasma Centrifuge, Final report on contract CR31-3946, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada, (June 1983).

 

3. W.A. Bell, J.G. Tracy, Stable Isotope inventory requirements and enrichment capabilities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, (December 1985).

 

4. J. Koch, Electromagnetic Isotope Separators and Application of Electromagnetically Enriched Isotopes, (Interscience Publishers, New York, 1958).

 

5. A.J. Novinrooz, et al., Separation of Thallium Isotope (203Tl) by 180o Electromagnetic Isotope Separator, J. Nucl. Sci. Tech. AEOI, 28 (1382) (In Persian).

 

6. J. Garousi, et al., Recovery of Mo-98 Enriched Stable Isotope from Graphite Collector of EMIS and Chemical Purification, J.  Nucl. Sci. Tech. AEOI, 37 (1385) (In Persian).

 

7. Z. Asadollahi, et al., Enrichment of Fe-54 by Electromagnetic Isotope Separator (EMIS), J. Nucle. Sci. Tech., AEOI, 66 (1392) (In Persian).

 

8. S.M. Mohati, Enrichment of 58Ni by electromagnetic isotope separator, 5th International conference on isotopes, Brussels (Belgium), April 25-29 (2005).

 

9. C.W. Sheridan, H.R. Gwinn, L.O. Love, Preparation of Charge Materials for ORNL Electromagnetic Isotopes separator, ORNL- 3301 (Aug 8, 1962).

 

10. P. Sarabadani, et al., Chemical recovery and purification of 203Tl stable isotope enriched by using an electromagnetic isotope separator, Journal of Labeled compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 50, 5-6 (2007).

 

11. B. Weaver, Chemical refinement procedure in the electromagnetic separation of isotopes, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, W-7405-eng-26, (1955).

 

12. G. Norwitz, Determination of Zirconium in Zirconium Metal and Zirconium Powder by Use of Mandelic Acid, Analytica Chimica Acta, 35, 491-498 (1966).

 

13. J. Stachtchenko, C. Duval, Sur la thermogravimétrie des précipités analytiques Dosage du zirconium, Analytica Chimica Acta, 5, 410-421 (1951).

Keywords

Isotope Production
Zr-90
Electromagnetic Isotope Separation
Nb-90
1. J.M. Dawson, Isotope separation in plasmas by use of Ion Cyclotron Resonance, Phys. Rev. Lett. 37(23), 1547 (1976).
 
2. H. Schmeing, W.J.L. Buyers, G. Dolling, Isotope Enrichment in Zirconium with a Plasma Centrifuge, Final report on contract CR31-3946, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada, (June 1983).
 
3. W.A. Bell, J.G. Tracy, Stable Isotope inventory requirements and enrichment capabilities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, (December 1985).
 
4. J. Koch, Electromagnetic Isotope Separators and Application of Electromagnetically Enriched Isotopes, (Interscience Publishers, New York, 1958).
 
5. A.J. Novinrooz, et al., Separation of Thallium Isotope (203Tl) by 180o Electromagnetic Isotope Separator, J. Nucl. Sci. Tech. AEOI, 28 (1382) (In Persian).
 
6. J. Garousi, et al., Recovery of Mo-98 Enriched Stable Isotope from Graphite Collector of EMIS and Chemical Purification, J.  Nucl. Sci. Tech. AEOI, 37 (1385) (In Persian).
 
7. Z. Asadollahi, et al., Enrichment of Fe-54 by Electromagnetic Isotope Separator (EMIS), J. Nucle. Sci. Tech., AEOI, 66 (1392) (In Persian).
 
8. S.M. Mohati, Enrichment of 58Ni by electromagnetic isotope separator, 5th International conference on isotopes, Brussels (Belgium), April 25-29 (2005).
 
9. C.W. Sheridan, H.R. Gwinn, L.O. Love, Preparation of Charge Materials for ORNL Electromagnetic Isotopes separator, ORNL- 3301 (Aug 8, 1962).
 
10. P. Sarabadani, et al., Chemical recovery and purification of 203Tl stable isotope enriched by using an electromagnetic isotope separator, Journal of Labeled compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 50, 5-6 (2007).
 
11. B. Weaver, Chemical refinement procedure in the electromagnetic separation of isotopes, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, W-7405-eng-26, (1955).
 
12. G. Norwitz, Determination of Zirconium in Zirconium Metal and Zirconium Powder by Use of Mandelic Acid, Analytica Chimica Acta, 35, 491-498 (1966).
 
13. J. Stachtchenko, C. Duval, Sur la thermogravimétrie des précipités analytiques Dosage du zirconium, Analytica Chimica Acta, 5, 410-421 (1951).

Home