Methods of separating medical isotopes from uranium solutions
Provided are methods to separate an isotope from a first solution including uranium. The methods may include (a) cleaning the first solution to form a second solution including the uranium and a third solution including the isotope; (b) oxidizing the third solution to form an oxidized isotope; and (c) separating the oxidized isotope.
1. A method of separating a desired isotope from a first solution comprising uranium, the method comprising:
a) cleaning the first solution to form a second solution comprising uranium and a third solution comprising the desired isotope; then
b) oxidizing the desired isotope; and then
c) applying the third solution to a medium to separate the desired isotope from the third solution, wherein the medium does not include a solvent extraction process, and wherein the desired isotope is selected from the group consisting of Mo-99, I-131, I-125, In-111, Xe-133, Y-90, Pd-103, Ru-106, and Cs-137.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises a solvent extraction process.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solvent extraction process comprises a UREX process.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the UREX process comprises treating the first solution with an effective amount of tributyl phosphate and acetohydroxamic acid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired isotope comprises Mo-99.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solution comprises uranium in an amount of at least about 10 g/L.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium of step (c) comprises a metal oxide column.
8. A method of producing desired isotopes, the method comprising:
a) irradiating a uranium solution to form a first solution comprising uranium and a daughter isotope; then
b) contacting the first solution with a chemical separation medium to form a second solution comprising the uranium and a third solution comprising the daughter isotope; and then
c) oxidizing the third solution and then applying the third solution to a medium to separate the daughter isotope from the third solution, wherein the medium does not include a solvent extraction process, and wherein the daughter isotope comprises a desired isotope selected from the group consisting of Mo-99, I-131, I-125, In-111, Xe-133, Y-90, Pd-103, Ru-106, and Cs-137.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the uranium solution of step (a) comprises uranium in an amount of at least about 10 g/L.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the desired isotope comprises Mo-99.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein step (b) comprises a solvent extraction process.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the solvent extraction process comprises a UREX process.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein step (b) comprises treating the first solution with an effective amount of tributyl phosphate and acetohydroxamic acid.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising returning the uranium from the second solution to a reaction vessel for irradiation.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the medium of step (c) comprises an alumina column.
16. A method of producing isotopes, comprising:
a) irradiating a uranium solution to yield a daughter isotope; then
b) separating the remaining uranium from the solution; then
c) oxidizing the daughter isotope; then
d) applying the solution to a medium to separate the daughter isotope from the solution, wherein the medium does not include a solvent extraction process; and then
e) extracting the daughter isotope, wherein the daughter isotope comprises a desired isotope selected from the group consisting of Mo-99, I-131, I-125, In-111, Xe-133, Y-90, Pd-103, Ru-106, and Cs-137.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising returning the remaining uranium in step (b) to step (a) for irradiation.