The production of no carrier added arsenic radioisotopes in nuclear reactors

The comparative advantages and drawbacks of some reactor-produced arsenic radioisotopes having favourable characteristics for their use as tracers are discussed. The study comprises their preparation based on: (a) capture reactions on germanium; (b) threshold reactions on germanium, selenium and bromine; (c) secondary reactions on germanium, induced by recoil protons and tritons produced by the action of neutrons on lithium. The recommended options for the production of relatively short half-life radionuclides are ⁷⁷As by capture on germanium or ⁷⁶As via (n,α) reaction on bromine, while two different ways are applicable for the production of ⁷⁴As, longer-lived radioisotope.