Optimization of an isothermal gas-chromatographic setup for the chemical exploration of dubnium (Db,Z = 105) oxychlorides

An isothermal gas-chromatographic (IGC) device has been developed and tested for on-line gas phase studies of volatile oxychlorides of short-lived group-5 transition metals. Radioisotopes of niobium and tantalum, produced in nuclear fusion evaporation reactions, are directly flushed into the IGC setup by an inert gas-jet. Oxychloride compounds are formed by the addition of SOCl₂ and O₂. Parameters influencing the formation and transport of NbOCl₃ and TaOCl₃ are discussed. For nuclides with half-lives (t_1/2) of about 30 s, an overall efficiency of 7% is obtained, rendering the IGC setup suitable for the chemical exploration of ²⁶²Db (t_1/2?=?34 s).