Production of monoenergetic MeV-range neutrons by <Superscript>3</Superscript>H(p,n)<Superscript>3</Superscript>He reaction

Monochromatic MeV-energy neutron source for secondary reaction was developed utilizing tritium embedded titanium (Ti-³H) thin film via ³H(p,n)³He reaction. We have measured the neutron energies and the energy spread by resonance reactions of ¹²C(n,tot) and ²⁸Si(n,tot). The available energy was within the range from 0.6 to 2.6 MeV. Energy spread was 1.6% at energy of 2.077 MeV. The flux in the beam direction was determined to be 3.76·10⁷ n/s/sr by irradiating ¹⁹⁷Au by about 2 MeV neutrons. This source was shown to be useful for measurements of nuclear data by measuring the total cross sections of neutrons on Fe and comparing these data to the data of ENDF-6.     

Determination of radionuclidic impurities in <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc eluate from <Superscript>99</Superscript>Mo/<Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc generator for quality control

Technetium-99m is the principal radioisotope used in medical diagnostics; radionuclidic impurity is the major concern of its quality. This work presents a analytical method for sequential determination of all radionuclidic impurities listed in pharmacopoeia including gamma emitters, alpha emitters, ⁸⁹Sr and ⁹⁰Sr. Radioactive decay for removal of ^99mTc, ion exchange and extraction chromatography for removal of ⁹⁹Mo and ⁹⁹Tc are effective for separation of interferences. Gamma spectrometry, LSC with alpha/beta discrimination, and Cherenkov counting using LSC are sensitive methods for measurement of the impurity radionuclides. The detection limits of this method are well meet the requirement of the quality control according to the limitation of the pharmacopoeia.     

<Superscript>99</Superscript>Mo/<Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc generators based on aluminum molybdate gel matrix prepared by nano method

A procedure for preparation of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc radioisotope generator based on low specific activity neutron activated ⁹⁹Mo was developed. Aluminum molybdate(VI)-⁹⁹Mo of high Mo(VI) content (~?364 mg/g Al⁹⁹Mo) was prepared by mixing low specific activity molybdate(VI)-⁹⁹Mo and aluminum mixture solution with isoamyl alcohol. Al⁹⁹Mo gel matrix was precipitated when the pH of the mixture solution was raised to ~?5 by addition of NaOH to the mixture. Radiometric measurements indicate the strong fixation of Molybdate(VI)-⁹⁹Mo species in the form of the sparingly insoluble Al⁹⁹Mo gel matrix. The prepared AlMo gel matrix was physiochemically characterized. Al⁹⁹Mo gel matrix was used as a base material for preparation of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator. The ^99mTc eluted from ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc radioisotope generator was found to have relatively high elution yield (84?±?2.3%), radionuclidic (≥?99.99%), radiochemical (98.1?±?0.9%) and chemical purity.     

Separation of <Superscript>133</Superscript>Xe from <Superscript>99</Superscript>Mo, <Superscript>131</Superscript>I and uranium,and removal of impurities using gas chromatography

Summary Separation and purification of ¹³³Xe from acidic solution containing uranium, ⁹⁹Mo and ¹³¹I has been developed. In the first step of this work, uranium pellets were dissolved under pressure (8-15 bar) in 8M nitric acid solution. Then¹³³ Xe and other gases were conducted to activated charcoal cold trap. Final purification of ¹³³Xe from impurities such as NO_x, radioiodine and krypton was performed by passing through a molecular sieve preparative chromatographic column using helium as mobile phase. The final recovery of ¹³³Xe from the separation-purification process was higher than 98%. Adsorption-desorption behavior of radioxenon on the charcoal and molecular sieves have also been studied and discussed.     

Experimental and FLUKA study relevant to the production of <Superscript>124</Superscript>I through <Superscript>nat</Superscript>Te(p,xn) reaction at a medium-sized cyclotron

A radiochemical methodology for the determination of ⁹⁴Nb in low-level radioactive wastes from nuclear power plant was proposed. Although ⁹⁴Nb is a strong gamma emitter, its concentration in radioactive waste samples is usually several orders of magnitude lower than that of other β–γ emitters, whose emissions interferes in the detection of the emission lines of ⁹⁴Nb. The procedure involves acid digestion, precipitation, cation exchange chromatography by using Amberlite IRA120 resin, extraction chromatography by using TEVA resin to isolate the Nb and the gamma spectrometry to its measurement. The chemical yield was 70% in average. Samples of evaporator concentrate and spent resin were analyzed. For the samples of the evaporator concentrate, the results obtained were below L _D = 9.59 × 10^?4 Bq g^?1. For the spent resin an average result of 1.54 × 10² Bq g^?1 was obtained.     

Sequential separation of <Superscript>99</Superscript>Tc, <Superscript>94</Superscript>Nb, <Superscript>55</Superscript>Fe, <Superscript>90</Superscript>Sr and <Superscript>59/63</Superscript>Ni from radioactive wastes

A sequential separation procedure has been developed for the determination of ⁹⁹Tc, ⁹⁴Nb, ⁵⁵Fe, ⁹⁰Sr and ^59/63Ni in various radioactive wastes generated from nuclear power plants. Ion exchange and extraction chromatography were adopted for individual separation of the radionuclides. Precipitation was supplementarily utilized for both purification of the individual radionuclides and preparation of the radionuclide sources for use in a radioactivity measurement. The chromatographic separation behavior of the radionuclides both from the sample matrix metals and from one another was investigated using stable metals, Re (as a surrogate of ⁹⁹Tc), Nb, Fe, Sr and Ni. The validity of the procedure for reliability and applicability was evaluated by measuring the recovery of the metal carriers added to synthetic radioactive waste solutions. The recoveries by the chromatographic separation were in the range of 84.8 to 102.2% with 2s of less than 8.6%, the recoveries by the precipitation being in the range of 84.3 to 97.3% with 2s of less than 10.9%.     

Structural features of acidic fluorophosphatozirconates (hafnates) from the <Superscript>19</Superscript>F, <Superscript>31</Superscript>P, <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR data

Fluorophosphatometallates with the composition K₃H₃Zr₃F₃(PO₄)₅, Rb₃H₃Zr₃F₃(PO₄)₅, Rb₃H₃Hf₃F₃(PO₄)₅, CsH₂Hf₂F₂(PO₄)₃?2H₂O are studied by ³¹P, ¹⁹F, and ¹H NMR. It is found that protons enter in the composition of hydrophosphate groups and fluorine atoms occupy the terminal sites in the tetravalent metal environment. Schemes of the crystal structure of fluorophosphatometallates are proposed. It is established that in CsH₂Hf₂F₂(PO₄)₃?2H₂O water molecules are bonded to the phosphate group proton via a strong hydrogen bond and are characterized by a low energy barrier of molecular motions.     

Extraction of metal ions (Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript>, Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>) using immobilized-polysiloxane iminobis(n-2-aminophenylacetamide) ligand system

A new insoluble solid functionalized ligand system bearing chelating ligand group of the general formula P-(CH₂)₃-N[CH₂CONH(C₆H₄)NH₂]₂, where P represents [Si–O] _n polysiloxane network, was prepared by the reaction of the immobilized diethyliminodiacetate polysiloxane ligand system, P-(CH₂)₃N(CH₂CO₂Et)₂ with 1,2-diaminobenzene in toluene. ¹³C CP-MAS NMR, XPS and FTIR results showed that most ethylacetate groups (–COOEt) were converted into the amide groups (–N–C=O). The new functionalized ligand system exhibits high capacity for extraction and removal of the metal ions (Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) with efficiency of 95–97% after recovery from its primary metal complexes. This functionalized ligand system formed 1:1 metal to ligand complexes.     

Atmospheric depositional fluxes of cosmogenic <Superscript>32</Superscript>P, <Superscript>33</Superscript>P and <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be in the Sevastopol region

⁹⁰Y was separated from ⁹⁰Sr using an extraction chromatographic resin consisting of 4, 4′(5′)-bis-t-butylcyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DtBuCH₁₈C₆), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (C₂mimNTf₂), and a polymer (Amberlite XAD-7). Ionic liquid was introduced into the column to improve the separation efficiency. The column showed an excellent performance for the separation of Y from Sr. After the separation, the ratio of ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y was <2.0 × 10^?5; the column was recycled for >18 times. This study provides preliminary results on columns to produce ⁹⁰Y with a high purity in radiopharmaceuticals.     

Cation binding by 2<Superscript>1</Superscript>,3<Superscript>1</Superscript>-diphenyl-l <Superscript>2</Superscript>,4<Superscript>2</Superscript>-dioxo-7,10,13-trioxa-1,4(3,1)-diquinoxalina-2 (2,3),3(3,2)-diindolizinacyclopentadecaphane and its acyclic analog

The binding of cations Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, NH₄ ⁺ (group I), H⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Ga³⁺ (group II), and Ca²⁺, Pb²⁺ (group III) by 2¹,3¹-diphenyl-l ²,4²-dioxo- 7,10,13-trioxa-l,4(3,1)-diquinoxalina-2(2,3),3(3,2)-diindolizinacyclopentadecaphane (1), which contains two indolizine and two quinoxaline fragments and 3,6,9-trioxaundecanes spacer, and by its acyclic analog (2) was studied using cyclic voltammetry in MeCN/0.1 M Bu₄NBF₄. It was concluded that the ions of group I are not bound by these compounds, the ions of group II exhibit the reversible redox-switched binding by the carbamoyl groups of the quinoxaline fragments, whereas the ions of group III are bound not only by the initial compounds and radical cations 1 and 2, but also by dication 1. This binding of the Ca²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions stabilizes dication 1.     

Distribution of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs, <Superscript>40</Superscript>K and <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be in silver fir-tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies alba</Emphasis> L.) from Gorski Kotar,Croatia

Distribution of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K and ⁷Be in tissues of the silver fir-tree was studied. Samples of the shoots were taken at six locations in Croatia during five years. Shoots were cut according to the year of growth and analyzed. Distribution between needles and twigs was also studied. Samples of the tree rings and the bark were taken at three locations. ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K showed very similar distributions. ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K activities were age-dependent and increased in decreasing age of twigs and needles. The highest activities were measured in the youngest twigs. The highest ⁷Be activities were found in the twigs.     

Systematic radiochemical separation for the determination of <Superscript>99</Superscript>Tc, <Superscript>90</Superscript>Sr, <Superscript>94</Superscript>Nb, <Superscript>55</Superscript>Fe and <Superscript>59,63</Superscript>Ni in low and intermediate radioactive waste samples

A simple and rapid separation procedure was systemized for the determination of ⁹⁹Tc, ⁹⁰Sr, ⁹⁴Nb, ⁵⁵Fe and ^59,63Ni in low and intermediate level radioactive wastes. The integrated procedure involves precipitation, anion exchange and extraction chromatography for the separation and purification of individual radionuclide from sample matrix elements and from other radionuclides. After separating Re (as a surrogate of ⁹⁹Tc) on an anion change resin column, Sr, Nb, Fe and Ni were sequentially separated as follows; Sr was separated as Sr (Ca-oxalate) co-precipitates from Nb, Fe and Ni followed by purification using Sr-Spec extraction chromatographic resin. Nb was separated from Fe and Ni by anion exchange chromatography. Fe was separated from Ni by anion exchange chromatography. Ni was separated as Ni-dimethylglyoxime precipitates after the removal of ^134,137Cs and ^110mAg by Cs-phosphotungstate and AgCl precipitation, respectively. Finally, the radionuclide sources were prepared by precipitation for their radioactivity measurements. The reliability of the procedure was evaluated by measuring the recovery of chemical carriers added to a synthetic radioactive waste solution.     

Measurement of the production rates of <Superscript>36</Superscript>Cl from Cl,K, and Ca in concrete at the 500 MeV neutron irradiation facility at KENS

In order to estimate the total radioactivity induced in a concrete shield by thermal neutron-capture reactions at high-energy accelerator facilities, the observed activity of ³⁶Cl in the concrete is expected to serve as an indicator of the thermal neutron fluence. Since ³⁶Cl can also be produced from K and Ca by spallation reactions, we measured these production rates in order to clarify the contribution of each reaction. The Cl, K, and Ca targets were irradiated with neutrons having a maximum energy of 500 MeV. As a result, the production rates of ³⁶Cl from Cl were only two orders higher than those from K and Ca. It was found that the ³⁶Cl production ratios from Cl, K, and Ca were 6.7%, 6.8%, and 86.5%, respectively, and Ca was the main source of ³⁶Cl production.     

Interaction energies of histidine with cations (H<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>)

The imidazol side group of histidine has two nitrogen atoms capable of being protonated or participating in metal binding. Hence, histidine can take on various metal-bound and protonated forms in proteins. Because of its variable structural state, histidine often functions as a key amino acid residue in enzymatic reactions. Ab initio (HF and MP2) calculations were done in modeling the cation (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) interaction with side chain of histidine. The region selectivity of metal ion complexation is controlled by the affinity of the side of attack. In the imidazol unite of histidine the ring nitrogen has much higher metal ion (as well as proton) affinity. The complexation energies with the model systems decrease in the following order: Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. The variation of the bond lengths and the extent of charge transfer upon complexation correlate well with the computed interaction energies.     

Complex amidoboranes M<Superscript>2</Superscript>[M<Superscript>1</Superscript>(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>BH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>] (M<Superscript>1</Superscript> = Al,Ga; M<Superscript>2</Superscript> = Li,Na, K,Rb, Cs)

Structural, spectral, and thermodynamic characteristics of complex amidoboranes M²[M¹(NH₂BH₃)₄] (M¹ = Al, Ga; M² = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) were calculated by the B3LYP/def2-SVPD quantum-chemical method. The procedure for the synthesis of these compounds by reactions of alkali metal amidoboranes with aluminum and gallium chlorides was suggested and experimentally tested. Reaction products were characterized by the NMR and IR spectroscopy and X-ray phase analysis.     

Oxidative dehydrogenation of N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-R<Superscript>1</Superscript>,R<Superscript>2</Superscript>-benzyl)-4-aminoantipyrines in the complexation reaction

Reactions of N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-R¹,R²-benzyl)-4-aminoantipyrines with copper acetate in ethanol gave complexes with Schiff bases (SBs) rather than the expected complexes with reduced SBs; i.e., the starting ligands undergo oxidative dehydrogenation during the complexation reaction. The corresponding complexes with reduced SBs were obtained from sodium salts of the ligands and cupric sulfate in aqueous solutions. Kinetic measurements showed that oxidative dehydrogenation occurs in the heteroleptic complexes Cu(L ⁱ )(CH₃COO)(X) (L ⁱ H are derivatives of N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-R¹,R²-benzyl)-4-aminoantipyrines; i = 6–10; X = H₂O, CH₃OH, CH₃CH₂OH) but does not occur in the complexes CH₃OH, CH₃CH₂OH. The absence of oxidative dehydrogenation of the ligands in Cu(L ⁱ )₂ · H₂O can be explained by the octahedral environment of the Cu²⁺ ion and, accordingly, the absence of the coordination site for molecular oxygen. The molecular structures of two Cu(II) complexes with SBs were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Solution <Superscript>1</Superscript>H n.m.r. of paramagnetic Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>complexes with dioxobis(carboxymethyl)tetraazamacrocycles

Paramagnetic shifts in the ¹H n.m.r. spectra were observed for high-spin Co²⁺ complexes with 12--14-membered tetraazamacrocycles incorporating two amide groups and two pendant carboxymethyl groups. The pseudocontact term due to the dipolar interaction between the metal ion and the resonant protons was calculated on the basis of X-ray structures, and the Fermi contact term due to spin delocalization was determined. The ethylenediamine moiety of the ligand molecule is coordinated in an unsymmetric manner, even in solution, and internal motion (involving conformational change of the macrocyclic frame and exchange of coordinate bonds) is much slower than the n.m.r. observation frequency. In the 12-membered macrocyclic complex Co(L12), three of the eight CH₂ groups fix their orientation in the n.m.r. time scale; in Co(L13) only one CH₂ group fixes its orientation; in Co(L14) all CH₂ groups undergo a rapid reorientation. The facility in internal motion increases with the ring size, and shows a correlation with the chemical stabilities of these Co²⁺ complexes against oxidation; to atmospheric oxygen, Co²⁺(L12) is the most resistant and Co²⁺(L14) is the most susceptible.     

Radiochemical separation and quality assessment for the <Superscript>68</Superscript>Zn target based <Superscript>64</Superscript>Cu radioisotope production

The radiochemical separation of the different radionuclides (⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁶Ga, ⁵⁶Ni, ⁵⁷Ni, ⁵⁵Co, ⁵⁶Co, ⁵⁷Co, ⁶⁵Zn, ¹⁹⁶Au) induced in the Ni supported Cu substrate — ⁶⁸Zn target system, which was bombarded with the 29.0 MeV proton beam, was performed by ion-exchange chromatography using successive isocratic and/or concentration gradient elution techniques. The overlapped gamma-ray spectrum analysis method was developed to assess the ⁶⁷Ga and ⁶⁷Cu content in the ⁶⁴Cu product and even in the post-⁶⁷Ga production ⁶⁸Zn target solution without the support of radiochemical separation. This method was used for the assessment of ⁶⁴⁺⁶⁷Cu radioisotope separation from ⁶⁷Ga, the quality control of ⁶⁴Cu product and the determination of the ⁶⁸Zn (p,2p)⁶⁷Cu reaction yield. The improvement in the targetry and the optimization of proton beam energy for the ⁶⁸Zn target based ⁶⁴Cu and ⁶⁷Ga production were proposed based on the stopping power and range of the incident proton and on the excitation functions, reaction yields and different radionuclides induced in the target system.     

Activity of the <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be isotope in plants from south-west Finland

We report the measurements of ⁷Be activity in nine vegetable species through the detection of its 477.6 keV γ-ray of ⁷Li. The plants were grown 10 km south of the city of Turku in south-west Finland, located at approximately about 23E, 62N. The results show that nettle, salad and cucumber have activities that exceed the detection limit.