Production of 52Fe by the 55Mn(p,4n)52Fe reaction and milking of 52mMn from 52Fe

The excitation functions were measured for the nuclear reactions of 55Mn(p,4n)52Fe and 55Mn(p,n)55Fe by using thin manganese disks, specially prepared under a pressure of 200-250 kg/cm2 at 400-500 degrees C for 0.5-1 hour. The maximum cross section in the excitation function for the 55Mn(p,4n)52Fe reaction was found to be 1.4mb at Ep = 54 MeV. From the yield curve, 24.8 MBq/microA h (670 muCi/microA h) of 52Fe was estimated to be produced with 0.45% 55Fe contamination in the energy region between 73 and 39 MeV. Iron-52 was produced in the yield of 85-93% to the expected value from the yield curve in the energy region of 44-60 MeV. For the separation of 52Fe, the radiochemical yield of 52FeCl3 was 70-92% and its radionuclidic purity was higher than 99%. Manganese-52m was obtained repeatedly by eluting the anion exchange column adsorbing 52Fe with 6N-HC1 in 99.9% radionuclidic purity and 86% yield to the expected value. The amount of 55Fe in a large quantity of 52Fe could be determined in 1-2 days from end of bambardment (EOB) by analyzing decay curve of Mn-Ka-X ray from 52Fe and 55Fe.