Formation cross section of iron-60 with reactor neutrons in59Fe(n, γ)60Fe reaction

Ingrowth of⁶⁰Co radioactivity in an iron sample irradiated in a nuclear reactor has been measured for determination of formation cross section of⁶⁰Fe in the⁵⁹Fe(n, )⁶⁰Fe reaction with reactor neutrons. After 5 years cooling, the irradiated iron was purified from⁶⁰Co and other radioactive nuclides by an anion exchange separation method and isopropyl ether extraction in hydrochloric acid. The amount of⁶⁰Co ingrowth was measured by -spectrometry using a Ge-detector coupled to a multichannel pulse height analyzer 4 years after the purification of iron. Neutron flux of the irradiation position was calculated from the amount of⁵⁵Fe produced. The observed value of 12.5±2.8 barn is slightly greater than reported value for burnup cross section of⁵⁹Fe(n, x)X, where x refers , , d, p and 2n, and X is any nuclide produced by the above reactions.     

Characterisation of lead rhodizonate as barium and radium adsorber from fresh water

A series of metal -diketonates were irradiated with bremsstrahlung of maximum energy of 50 MeV and the recoil behavior of⁷Be, formed from¹²C of ligands through¹²C(, n)⁷Be reaction, was investigated.⁷Be nuclides thus formed were detected partially as central metal atoms of the complexes. Complex yields of⁷Be were compared and an anomalously high yield was observed in tris-acetylacetonatocobalt(III) [Co(acac)₃].     

Results of three years of monitoring239,240Pu and238Pu concentrations in airborne effluents from the V-1 nuclear power plant with VVER 440 reactors in Jaslovské Bohunice in Czechoslovakia

The concentration of^239,240Pu and²³⁸Pu in airborne effluents in the years 1985–1987 from two reactors VVER 440/total power of 880 MW/ of a nuclear power plant V-1 in Jaslovské Bohunice in Czechoslovakia, was determined. The concentration of^239,240Pu in effluents ranged from 1.0 to 30.8 Bq.m^–3 and of²³⁸Pu from 1.6 to 41.1 Bq.m^–3. The activity ratio²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu in airborne effluents kept within the range of 1.0–2.4. Total annual discharged activities of^239,240Pu in 1985, 1986 and 1987 were 28.5, 12.7 and 12.2 kBq, respectively. Total annual discharged activities of²³⁸Pu in 1986 and 1987 were 16.6 and 15.1 kBq, respectively.     

Charge distribution study in the alpha-particle induced fission of232Th+ effect of excitation energy

The fractional cumulative yields of¹³⁵I,¹³⁸Xe and¹⁴⁰Ba in the particle (30 MeV) induced fission of²³²Th have been determined following the growth and decay of^135gXe,^138gCs and¹⁴⁰La, respectively, employing high resolution gamma ray spectroscopy. The fractional cumulative yield values are 0.766±0.02, 0.813±0.03 and 0.991±0.004, respectively. The analysis of the data indicates a broader width of charge distribution () compared to the normally observed =0.56±0.06 for thermal neutron fission of²³⁵U.     

The Ionic Strength Dependence of Rare Earth and Yttrium Fluoride Complexation at 25°C

Formation constants for the complexation of yttrium and rare earth elements(YREE) by fluoride ions have been measured at 25°C. The ionic strength ()dependence of YREE formation constants in perchlorate solution for ionicstrengths between 0 and 6 molar can be expressed aslog_F1 (M, ) =log_F1 ^o (M) –3.066 ^0.5/(1 + 1.769 ^0.5)+ 0.1645 where log_F1 ^o(M) represents MF²⁺formation constants at zero ionic strength.The log_F1 ^o(M) results obtained inthis work are: Y(4.46), La(3.62), Ce(3.86),Pr(3.84), Nd(3.82), Sm(4.15), Eu(4.27), Gd(4.24), Tb(4.37), Dy(4.39), Ho(4.28),Er(4.27), Tm(4.29), Yb(4.39), and Lu(4.25). The relative magnitudes of YREEformation constants are independent of ionic strength. The pattern oflog_F1(M,),formation constants obtained in this work [relative magnitudes oflog_F1 ^o (M)],exhibits a shallow minimum between Dy and Yb. In contrast to the smoothpattern of stability constants expected if fluoride were to interact with bare ions(with monotonically decreasing crystal radii between La and Lu), theinteractionof F^– with YREEs, which have extensive hydration spheres[M(H₂O)_8–9 ³⁺] resultsin a relatively complex pattern of lanthanide stability constants. The fluoridecomplexation behavior of yttrium differs distinctly from the behavior of any rareearth. Although the crystal radius of Y3;pl is approximately equalto that of Ho³⁺,differences in the covalence/ionicity of Y³⁺ relative to therare earths leads to aYF²⁺ stability constant that exceeds that of any rare earthelement (REE).     

A new detection method of99Tc by nuclear excitation

A new nuclear excitation process,⁹⁹Tc (, )^99mTc reaction, was applied for the first time to radioactivation analysis of technetium. Bremsstrahlung irradiation of⁹⁹Tc samples gave the reaction product^99mTc which emits -ray measurable with ease by a semiconductor detector. The production rate of^99mTc per g⁹⁹Tc was linearly correlated with the flux of bremsstrahlung. The detection limit of⁹⁹Tc was estimated to be nanogram order (0.63 Bq⁹⁹Tc) under the optimum irradiation condition. Possible interference by¹⁰⁰Ru(, p)^99mTc reaction was also studied, which could be discriminated from the (, ) reaction by simultaneously occurring⁹⁸Ru (, p)⁹⁷Ru reaction.     

Speciation of239Np in neutron irradiated uranium compounds

The chemical state of²³⁹Np formed in the -decay of²³⁹U produced by thermal neutron capture in²³⁹U, has been determined in simple uranium compounds as well as in macrocyclic complexes of this element. It is shown that the behavior of neptunium depends on such factors as the nature of the target, the counter-ion of the complex, the dissolution medium and the pH. The change of the oxidation state of²³⁹Np with time and the effect of the presence of macroscopic amounts of²³⁸UO ₂ ²⁺ and of²³⁸U(IV) in the solution have also been investigated. The results are discussed in terms of the hot atom behavior of²³⁹U and of the genuine effects of -decay.     

Effect of experimental conditions on the in vitro stability of99mTc (Sn)-pyrophosphate

The in vitro stability of^99mTc (Sn)-PyP as a function of experimental conditions of the preparation of the kit and time elapsed after labeling has been tested. The preparation was protected by using nitrogen-purged reactant solutions and kit vials and by ascorbic acid. The samples under nitrogen are stable for 6 h when the content of^99mTc-pertechnetate raises to 5%. The best stability was achieved by addition of 5 g of ascorbic acid per ml of the kit (content of^99mTc-pertechnetate about 0.5%). To accelerate the decomposition, exogenous hydrogen peroxide was used. In this case it was found that the presence of 10 g of ascorbic acid inhibits the effect both of oxygen and peroxide (6 g H₂O₂/ml of the kit). Radiochemical purity of^99mTc (Sn)-PyP remains practically unchanged for 6 h (content of^99mTc-pertechnetate about 0.5%).     

Quality control of201TlCl solution obtained at IPEN-CNEN/SP

The radiopharmaceutical²⁰¹TlCl(thallium-201 chloride) is used in nuclear medicine for myocardial visualization. The solution of²⁰¹TlCl was prepared using²⁰¹Tl obtained by irradiating a natural mercury target with protons from the CV-28 cyclotron installed at IPEN-CNEN/SP. This solution was subjected to different quality control processes required for its use in medicine. Some of these controls concerned the determination of the radionuclidic impurities:²⁰⁰Tl,²⁰²Tl and²⁰³Hg; the chemical identification of²⁰¹Tl⁺; the hydrazine concentration, mercury contamination and the presence of phosphate. Furthermore. the biological distribution in Wistar rats and tests for sterility, pyrogenicity and toxicity were carried out. It was verified that the solution obtained was in the form of thallous chloride. This radiopharmaceutical gave good heart images in animals but due to the high levels of²⁰⁰Tl and²⁰²Tl its use in humans is not possible unless enriched²⁰²Hg is used as target in the irradiation.     

Determination of241Pu by low level β-proportional counting. Application to Chernobyl fallout samples and comparison with the241Am build-up method

A chemical separation procedure is described which allows the direct determination of low²⁴¹Pu activities in environmental samples with a windowless gas-flow proportional counter. While current separation schemes based on anion exchange yield counting sources of sufficient purity for subsequent -spectrometry, for -counting of²⁴¹Pu additional purification steps are required. A combination of anion exchange from 9 mol/l HCl, LaF₃ precipitation and TTA extraction was found to be suitable even for the analysis of long-range Chernobyl fallout samples which contained interfering radionuclides with -activities at least 3 to 4 orders of magnitude higher than usually encountered. No difference is detectable between the results of the present, direct procedure and the results of the conventional indirect method based on the build-up of²⁴¹Am. Average²⁴¹Pu/^239+240Pu ratios in air and deposition samples taken at Neuherberg near Munich were 70±6 with the present procedure and 66±9 from²⁴¹Am build-up.     

Čerenkov spectroscopic assay of fission isotopes

A erenkov counting technique is presented for the radioassay of¹⁰⁶Ru in aqueous solutions containing nitrate, nitric acid, chloride as well as inactive ruthenium nitrosyl complex carrier. The counting efficiency was found to be a function of colour quenching by these substances in the UV and visible range. Measurements made on a three-channel automatic liquid scintillation spectrometer indicated that the counting efficiency can be calculated by use of the experimentally determined channel ratio of a quenched sample, without prior knowledge of the quencher concentration. The technique can be useful during studies on the removal of¹⁰⁶Ru from nuclear waste solutions. Special settings of discriminator windows enable radioassays in presence of weak -emitters such as¹³⁷Cs. The possibility of determining¹⁰⁶Ru in presence of⁹⁰(Sr/Y) was also investigated.     

Dissociation and complexation ofN-m-tolyl-p-methoxybenzohydroxamic acid with manganese(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II)

Summary The thermodynamic ionisation and formation constant at different ionic strengths of some divalent metal ions ofN-m-tolyl-p-methoxybenzohydroxamic acid at 25 and 35° were determined in several dioxanwater media. The solid complexes of Cu^II, Ni^II and Mn^II withN-m-tolylbenzo-,N-m-tolyl-p-methylbenzo- andN-m-tolyl-p-methoxybenzohydroxamic acids were prepared and their magnetic susceptibilities measured at room temperature.     

Correlated concentration distributions of natural alpha-radionuclides in sediment samples along the Romanian sector of the Danube river and the Black Sea coast

The concentrations of²³⁸U and²³²Th were determined by neutron activation analysis using epithermal irradiation in 12 sediment samples, collected along the Romanian sector of the Danube river and the Black Sea coast during 1994. The concentrations of²²⁶Ra were determined by the emanation method in the same sediment samples. The concentration ranges obtained were compared also with the²¹⁰Po concentration range for the same sector, reported in a previous paper. The accumulation potential of -emitting radionuclides in the analysed sediments is discussed.     

Transformed steroids

Conclusions The addition of thioacetic acid to the ⁵ bonds of 16- and 16-mercapto-3-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one 3,16-diacetates (II) and (III) under radical conditions gives not only trans-diaxial addition products-6,16- and 6,16-dimercapto-3-hydroxy-5o;-pregnan-20-one 3,6,16-triacetates (IV) and (V) -but also cis-addition products-6,16- and 6,16-dimercapto-3-hydroxy-5-pregnan-20-one 3,6,16-triacetates (VI) and (VII).Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 405–411, February, 1969.     

Fast,selective and sensitive methods for the determination of lead-210 in phosphogypsum and phosphate ore

Two methods are presented for a fast, accurate and precise determination of²¹⁰Pb in industrial samples with a calcium-phosphate and-sulphate matrix. One method combinessolid-liquid extraction on a Pb-selective column Sr^*Spec (Eichrom) with gamma-ray spectrometry of²¹⁰Pb and can be applied to samples >10 g for aselective ²¹⁰Pb determination. The yield is determined gravimetrically. The detection limit is 380 mBq for a 24 h counting period. The other method combineschromatography on Sr^*Spec with liquid scintillation counting of²¹⁰Pb for asensitive ²¹⁰Pb determination and can be applied to samples of up to 1 g. The yield is determined on-line by the UV signal of PbEDTA. The detection limit is 70 mBq for a 2 h counting period. Aspects of accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity and the application of both methods to phosphogypsum and phosphate ores are presented.     

Preparation of short-lived radioisotope167Tm and its biodistribution in mice

A method for the production of¹⁶⁷Tm using the¹⁶⁵Ho(,2n)¹⁶⁷Tm nuclear reaction and extraction-chromatography is described. The chemical recovery of Ho is >90%. The final product contains <4 g/ml of Ho with a radiochemical purity of >99% suitable for medical use. The estimated yield of¹⁶⁷Tm is 10–20 Ci/A·h which is comparable with other recent work. Biodistributions of¹⁶⁷Tm-citrate in mice indicate that¹⁶⁷Tm is an ideal bone and liver tumor scanning agent.     

Estimated ionicB-coefficients from NMR measurements in aqueous electrolyte solutions

¹⁷O-NMR spin-lattice relaxation timesT ₁ of D₂O molecules were measured at 5–85°C in D₂O solutions of alkali metal halides (LiClCsCl, KBr, and KI), DCl, KOD, Ph₄PCl, NaPh₄B, and tetraalkylammonium bromides (Me₄NBrAm₄NBr) in the concentration range 0.1–1.4 mol-kg^–1 TheB-coefficients of the electrolytes obtained from the concentration dependence of relaxation ratesR ₁=1/T₁ were divided into the ionicB-coefficients by three methods: (i) the assumption ofB (K⁺)=B(Cl^–), (ii) the assumption ofB(Ph₄P⁺)=B(Ph₄B^–), and (iii) the use ofB(Br^–) obtained from a series ofB(R₄NBr). It was found that Methods (ii) and (iii) resulted in an abnormal temperature dependence of theB-coefficients of alkali metal ions and a negative values of rotational correlation times _c at lower temperatures for hydroxide and halide ions. These results suggest that the methods based on the van der Waals volume are not adequate for the ionic separation of NMRB-coefficients. From the analysis using the assumption ofB(K⁺)=B(Cl^–), it was found that D₃O⁺, OD^–, and Me₄N⁺ ions are the intermediates between structure makers and breakers, and that the hydrophobicity of phenyl groups is weaker than that of alkyl groups due to the interactions between water molecules and -electrons in phenyl groups.     

Diffraction from thermotropic copolyester molecules

Analytical expressions for the meridional scattering from highly oriented random copolyesters are presented. These procedures are utilised in developing the relationship of the features in the diffraction pattern to compositions and relative lengths of the constituent monomer units. The difference between the scattering patterns for random and block copolymers are discussed. The theory is applied to an example of a liquid crystal froming random copolyester.Summary of terms B _a (s) the meridional scattering intensity for the chemical unitA - s width or scattering peak measured at half height - f _a number fraction ofA units in chains - f _b number fraction ofB units in chains - ¦f_N number fraction of designated chemical units - [ (N) hydroxynaphthoic residues - B hydroxybenzoic - F _m (s) scattering function associated withm ^th neighbours along chain - G(s) function proportional to scattering intensity - H _m (r) linear disposition function form ^th neighbours along chain - radiation wavelength - L _a average length of sequence ofA units (=n _a r _a) - N _a total number ofA units in chain - n _a average number ofA units in sequences of such unints.n _a= n _a;im _i ² n _a;i;m _i wheren _a;i is the number of sequences containing m; units ofA - P _a probability of a unit being of identityA (P _a=f _a for a random (Bernoullioun) copolymer) - q _aa probability of a unitA following a unitA - [q _ab probability of a unit B following a unitA ] - r _a length of chemical unitA within chain - S scattering vector defined as 4 sin/ - 2 scattering angle - W(r) distribution function of interunit distances - Z(s) function proportional to scattering intensity along chain axis (meridional)     

Variation of natural232Th excretion in non-exposed persons

Urinary excretion of²³²Th was assessed, in occupationally non-exposed persons by means of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Measurements were performed in 55 healthy subjects. Mean daily²³²Th excretion was 47±26 Bq·d^–1 (range 17–121 Bq·d^–1). Results obtained showed no statistically significant correlation with age and no differences were found between males and females. The impact on the assessment of intakes by workers is discussed.     

90Sr in lake sediments

For a better understanding of the behaviour of⁹⁰Sr in aquatic systems, this -emitter has been determined in the different layers of a lake sediment core which has been previously dated using the well established²¹⁰Pb dating method. For this, a radiochemical technique has been developed for the isolation of strontium from the sediment samples and for its activity measurement with a low-level gas-flow proportional counter. A conservative behaviour of⁹⁰Sr in the water column remaining dissolved in the water body, can be inferred from the data obtained. Consequently, a possible⁹⁰Sr transport pathway through the outflowing waters of the lake can be deduced.