Study of valence state of iodine in simulated fuel solution of medical isotope production reactor

The effects of temperature, heating-time, concentration of HNO₃ and γ-ray irradiation on the valence states of iodine in a simulated fuel solution of a medical isotope production reactor (MIPR) were investigated. About 83% of I⁻ was oxidized to IO₃ ⁻ and 10% of I⁻ was oxidized to I₂ in uranyl nitrate solution after heating at 70 °C for 6 hours. Heating and existence of oxidant, U and ionizing radiation accelerate the oxidation process of iodine, and results in most of the iodine being produced in high oxidation states such as in IO₃ ⁻ and IO₄ ⁻. The results indicate that the production of ¹³¹I by MIPR can be carried out by extraction of iodine in high oxidation states from the fuel solution.