Targetry coupled separations

摘要

Targetry coupled separation refers to enhancing the production of a predetermined radiation product through the selection of a target (including selection of the target material and the material's physical structure) and separation chemistry in order to optimize the recovery of the predetermined radiation product. This disclosure describes systems and methods for creating (through irradiation) and removing one or more desired radioisotopes from a target and further describes systems and methods that allow the same target to undergo multiple irradiations and separation operations without damage to the target. In contrast with the prior art that requires complete dissolution or destruction of a target before recovery of any irradiation products, the repeated reuse of the same physical target allowed by targetry coupled separation represents a significant increase in efficiency and decrease in cost over the prior art.

主权项

1. A method for manufacturing 99Mo radioisotope, the method comprising:
providing a source containing a first mass of uranium, the source being in a form in which a majority of uranium atoms are within a selected distance from an available surface of the source; exposing the source to neutrons, thereby reducing the first mass of uranium in the source to a second mass of uranium less than the first mass and creating at least some atoms of the 99Mo radioisotope and thereby also causing at least some of the newly created atoms of the 99Mo radioisotope to move toward an available surface of the source; and after exposing the source to neutrons, removing at least some of the atoms of the 99Mo radioisotope from the source without substantially removing uranium from the second mass of uranium in the source.