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Handling and separation of short-lived radioisotopes from research reactors
Abstracts of papers Production of Short-Lived Radioisotopes in the United Kingdom and their Distribution.* C. TAYLOR, R. WEST and M. WHITING, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, U.K. Short-lived radioisotopes are produced centrally in the United Kingdom and distributed to laboratories at considerable distances, in many cases overseas. Most of these radioisotopes are produced in two research reactors at Harwell which are fitted with a variety of load-unload devices for carrying out short irradiation without interfering with reactor operation. The design and use of such devices is discussed, with reference to nuclear heating, sample containment, sample selection and handling, and reactivity effects. A review is given of the problems of distributing short-lived radioisotopes from a central supply point. Production of Short-Lived Isotopes in the VVR-M Reactor.7 I. -4. KONDUROV and 11. 12. YASHIN, i\. F. Joffe Physico-‘Technical Institute, Academy of Sciences, Leningrad, U.S.S.R. The paper discusses the production of short-lived isotopes in the VVR-M reactor, from the loading of the sample for irradiation to its extraction from the hot chambers. The mechanism developed at the Ptysico-Technical Institute for handling the containers with the irradiated samples can be used in all existing and projected reactors with eccentric upper shielding covers. The irradiated samples are extracted with the aid of an unloading box designed and constructed to suit conditions in the VVR-M reactor. Along with the standard method of producing various radioisotopes, experimental facilities for carrying out research on short-lived isotopes are described. In particular, a description is given of special equipment for research on F20 (l t = 10.7 set) and IZ4@ (t a -~ 2.5 hr) and of apparatus for studying radioactive isotopes with a half-life of 0.01 set or less; other procedures employed in the horizontal and vertical channels of the VVR-R4 reactor for studying short-lived isotopes are also described. Handling isotopes MEINKE, Michigan,
and Separation of Short-Lived from Research Reactors.: University of Michigan, Ann U.S.A.
Radiow. w. .2rbor,
The use of radioisotopes has often been limited to those with half-lives greater than a day because of remoteness of the supplying reactor. This encouraged * ShI-32/4. t SM-32/5. $ SM-32/6.
Original: Original: Original
:
English. Russian. English.
519
a leisurely approach to processing and utilizationand in turn fostered a reluctance on the part of the user to even consider the potentialities of many shorter-lived isotopes. JVith the availability of research reactors throughout the world this reliance on distant isotope producers can bc severed, and at the same time many new fields of experimentation with short-lived isotopes can be exploited. To accomplish this, however, requires a new approach to tracer production. For almost five y-ears our program with the University of hfichigan research reactor has involved the handling, processing, and measuring of short-lived isotopes. \l’e work routinely with isotopes with halflives not only of hours, but even of minutes. While much of our effort has been directed towards the field of activation analysis, the equipment, techniques, and procedures used are applicable to many other areas. To exploit short-lived isotopes it is not essential to have large stocks of isotopes, nor three-shift reactor operation, nor claboratc processing facilities. Indeed, simple positive-action tongs and straightforward proccdures usually prove more satisfactory than rlaborate rcmotc manipulations. The heart of our system is the reactor pncumatictube facility lvhich delivers samples to a hood in a laboratory adjoining the reactor within three seconds after irradiatioll. Dissolution and rapid radiochemical separations can then be performed clircctly on the sample without fLIrther transfer. Separation procedures adaptable to this short time scale (fcwminutes) include not only solvent rxtraction, anion exchange and precipitation, but also new types such as isotopic exchange and amalgam exchange. A4any new tcchniqucs, such as extrnsions of elrctromigration and paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography. selective distillation, selective reduction etc., also add to the variety of separation possibilities to bc explored. The local research reactor, whether it be in a university in the United States, or a developing country half-way around the world, thus opens a whole new era of tracer possibilities.
Production and Use of the Isotopes Na24, K42, Cue4 and Mogg*. R. Loos, Universitk Lovanium de Lkopoldville, RCpublique du Congo The Lovanium University, Leopoldville, is working in close co-operation with the Trico Centre, which operates a Triga reactor (General Atomics) with a maximum power output of 50 kW and distributes isotopes to the University’s laboratories and other * SM-32/7.
Original:
French.
and Separation of Short-Lived from Research Reactors.: University of Michigan, Ann U.S.A.
Radiow. w. .2rbor,
The use of radioisotopes has often been limited to those with half-lives greater than a day because of remoteness of the supplying reactor. This encouraged * ShI-32/4. t SM-32/5. $ SM-32/6.
Original: Original: Original
:
English. Russian. English.
519
a leisurely approach to processing and utilizationand in turn fostered a reluctance on the part of the user to even consider the potentialities of many shorter-lived isotopes. JVith the availability of research reactors throughout the world this reliance on distant isotope producers can bc severed, and at the same time many new fields of experimentation with short-lived isotopes can be exploited. To accomplish this, however, requires a new approach to tracer production. For almost five y-ears our program with the University of hfichigan research reactor has involved the handling, processing, and measuring of short-lived isotopes. \l’e work routinely with isotopes with halflives not only of hours, but even of minutes. While much of our effort has been directed towards the field of activation analysis, the equipment, techniques, and procedures used are applicable to many other areas. To exploit short-lived isotopes it is not essential to have large stocks of isotopes, nor three-shift reactor operation, nor claboratc processing facilities. Indeed, simple positive-action tongs and straightforward proccdures usually prove more satisfactory than rlaborate rcmotc manipulations. The heart of our system is the reactor pncumatictube facility lvhich delivers samples to a hood in a laboratory adjoining the reactor within three seconds after irradiatioll. Dissolution and rapid radiochemical separations can then be performed clircctly on the sample without fLIrther transfer. Separation procedures adaptable to this short time scale (fcwminutes) include not only solvent rxtraction, anion exchange and precipitation, but also new types such as isotopic exchange and amalgam exchange. A4any new tcchniqucs, such as extrnsions of elrctromigration and paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography. selective distillation, selective reduction etc., also add to the variety of separation possibilities to bc explored. The local research reactor, whether it be in a university in the United States, or a developing country half-way around the world, thus opens a whole new era of tracer possibilities.
Production and Use of the Isotopes Na24, K42, Cue4 and Mogg*. R. Loos, Universitk Lovanium de Lkopoldville, RCpublique du Congo The Lovanium University, Leopoldville, is working in close co-operation with the Trico Centre, which operates a Triga reactor (General Atomics) with a maximum power output of 50 kW and distributes isotopes to the University’s laboratories and other * SM-32/7.
Original:
French.